Abstract:

A system and method are presented for managing and using (e.g. for
commercial or medical use) of a database. A verified database of a
plurality of identified individuals is provided. The verified database
comprises a plurality of individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and
relationship data. The verified database is processed in accordance with
one or more parameters or conditions selected in accordance with at least
one medical application, and a sub-group database is created including
data records of the individuals from the verified database having said
one or more selected parameters or conditions. This allows collection of
data comprising the one or more selected parameters or conditions and
delivery of at least part of the collected data to one or more users, and
enables applying data from the verified database to provide personalized
medicine service to at least one of the identified individuals.

Claims:

1. A method for using and managing a database, the method
comprising:providing a verified database of a plurality of identified
individuals, the verified database comprising a plurality of
individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data;
andprocessing said verified database in accordance with one or more
parameters or conditions selected in accordance with at least one medical
application and creating a sub-group database including data records of
the individuals from the verified database having said one or more
selected parameters or conditions, thereby allowing collection of data
comprising one or more selected parameters or conditions and delivery of
at least part of the collected data to one or more users and enable to
apply data from said verified database to provide personalized medicine
service to at least one of said identified individuals.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said providing of the verified
database comprises:permitting a plurality of individuals to enter
individual-associated data bits (IDBs) into a computerized system, each
of the IDBs comprising at least one personal identifier relating to the
individual and relationship data comprising data on one or more related
individuals and the nature of relationship;processing the entered IDBs to
generate the IDS, one for each identified individual, being either said
individual who has entered the individual-associated data bits or one of
the related individuals and construct the verified database comprising
IDSs of identified individuals.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing of the verified
database in accordance with said one or more selected parameters or
conditions is initiated by a request from a user.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said user is the individual
whose data is included in the verified database.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing comprises
generating a request to at least some of the individuals whose data is
included into the verified database to provide additional data according
to said one or more selected parameters or conditions.

6. A method according to claim 5, comprising updating the verified
database with the additional data received from at least some of the
individuals, and applying said processing to the updated verified
database to create the sub-group database.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the selected parameters or
conditions include at least one parameter or condition selected according
to one of the following applications: a commercial application, sectorial
and targeted marketing application, a statistical application, an
identifying application selected from identifying a hostile person, a
lost person, a relationship between a deceased person and living person,
a family application.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing of the verified
database comprises creating a medical database of at least some of said
identified individuals, said medical database comprising information
pertaining to at least one of a disease, a medical condition, a genotype,
a phenotype, a family relationship; and a geographic location of at least
one of said identified individuals.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one medical
application is based upon personalized medicine.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of the verified
database comprises filtering said verified database to create the
subgroup of identified individuals.

11. A method according to claim 10, comprising providing at least one of a
product and a service to at least one individual of said subgroup.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the provision step is
responsive to information pertaining to said at least one individual.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing comprises
constructing a family database for each individual.

16. A method according to claim 15, comprising:a) constructing at least
two IDSs for corresponding at least two identified first individuals;b)
identifying at least two IDSs having overlapping relationship data
including at least one identical identified individual in the
corresponding relationship data; andc) consolidating the at least two
relationship data pieces to construct an expanded relationship data
record.

17. A method according to claim 16, comprising constructing an expanded
family database that comprises all family databases which are overlapping
family databases and comprise data identifying the connection between
individual of the expanded family database.

18. (canceled)

19. A method according to claim 8, comprising combining at least one
personal medical record with data from the verified database.

20. A method according to claim 19, comprising providing personalized
medical service selected from a personalized treatment service, a
personalized prevention service and a personalized prediction service.

21. A computerized system for managing and using a database over a
computer network, the system comprising a server system linked to the
network and accessible by users via their communication devices
connectable to the network, said server system comprising a processor
utility, which is associated with a verified database of a plurality of
identified individuals comprising a plurality of individual-identifier
data sets (IDSs) and relationship data and which is adapted to carry out
the following; process said verified database in accordance with one or
more parameters or conditions selected according to at least one medical
application and create a sub-group database comprising data about at
least some of the identified individuals characterized by said one or
more selected parameters or conditions, and apply data from said verified
database in order to provide a personalized medicine service to at least
one of said identified individuals.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said processor utility is
responsive to a user request to perform said processing of the verified
database and creation of the sub-group database.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein said server system comprises a
second processing utility configured to be responsive to a command from
the first processing utility to generate a request to at least some of
said identified individuals to provide additional data according to said
one more parameters and conditions to thereby updating of the sub-group
database.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said second processing utility
is configured for updating the verified database with said additional
data.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein said first processing utility
is configured for using said sub-group database for collecting certain
information from and/delivering certain information to at least some of
the identified individuals of said sub-group database.

26. A system according to claim 21, configured to carry out the following:
receive a plurality of individual-associated data bits (IDBs) entered by
clients, the IDBs comprising personal identifiers and relationship data,
the relationship data comprising data on one or more related individuals
and the nature of relationship, generate an individual-identifier data
set (IDS), one for each identified individual, being either one of the
users or one of the related individuals, process all the IDSs and
construct a verified database comprising IDSs of identified individuals
and their position in a relationship web, and process the information in
said verified database according to said at least one selected parameter
or condition and create the corresponding sub-group database of at least
some of said identified individuals.

27. (canceled)

28. A system according to claim 21, wherein said sub-group database
comprises a medical database comprising information pertaining to at
least one of a disease, a medical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a
family relationship; and a geographic location of at least one of said
identified individuals.

29. (canceled)

30. A computerized system for managing and using a database, the system
comprising a server system accessible by users via their communication
devices connectable to the server system, said server system comprising a
processor utility, which is associated with a verified database of a
plurality of identified individuals comprising a plurality of
individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data and which is
adapted to carry out the following: process said verified database in
accordance with one or more parameters or conditions selected according
to at least one medical application and create a sub-group database
comprising data about at least some of the identified individuals
characterized by said one or more selected parameters or conditions, and
apply data from said verified database in order to provide a personalized
medicine service to at least one of said identified individuals.

31. (canceled)

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention concerns the construction of a database of
individuals and various applications thereof. In particular, the present
invention concerns the use of a database of individuals in personalized
medicine based on authenticated medical and other personal data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The Internet is very useful as a medium of communication and
provision and retrieval of information. The Internet became also a medium
in which individuals form or associate themselves with virtual
communities consisting of individuals with common interests, backgrounds,
etc. In order to belong to such a virtual community an individual
`surfing` the Internet typically needs to locate the proper website and
register. It would have been useful to have an Internet-based means that
will be able to associate an individual with one or more communities
("community" including individuals with family relations, individuals
having a common interest, individuals having a similar origin or
background, etc.), based on a self entered profile.

[0003]The Internet also proved to be a useful tool for individuals to
locate family members, lost friends, etc. This requires posting notes on
appropriate virtual bulleting boards, using appropriate search engines,
etc. This, however, is a relatively chance process and does not always
bring the desired results. It would have been useful to streamline this
process.

[0004]Some background information may be found in the following
publications:

[0008]U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,350 to Carter discloses a method and apparatus
for pricing products in multi-level product and organizational groups;

[0009]U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,567 to Eaton, discloses a system and method for
using a graphical interface for the presentation of genealogical
information;

[0010]U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,001 to Ripley discloses a system and method for
sharing data between hierarchical databases; and

[0011]U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,015 to Notargiacomo et al., discloses a method
and system for building a family tree.

[0012]Over the last decade, as the human genome has become unraveled,
there has been a marked interest in developing systems and methods for
providing personalized medicine services. "Personalized medicine" is
understood to broadly pertain to providing a medical service to an
individual, matched to his genetic makeup and to providing a tailored
medical treatment at the right time, and at the right dosage based on
his/her personalized medical parameters.

[0013]US 2002048755A, to Cohen, describes a system for developing
diagnostic assays, useful in determining whether a particular therapeutic
agent will benefit an individual, comprises a continuum of processes that
advance diagnostic development while concomitantly benefiting development
of the therapeutic agent. This continuum of processes, which is of dual
use, in promoting both diagnostic and drug development, is highly
economic and efficient, and creates synergy between pharmaceutical and
diagnostic companies.

[0014]US 2005246314A, to Eder, describes methods, program storage devices
and systems for developing a Personalized Medicine Service for an
individual or group of individuals that can support the operation,
customization and coordination of computer systems, software, products,
services, data, entities and/or devices.

[0015]US 2007087365A, to Sieben et al., shows that there are twenty-three
markers which are epigenetically silenced in ovarian cancers. The markers
can be used diagnostically, prognostically, therapeutically, and for
selecting treatments that are well tailored for an individual patient.
Restoration of expression of silenced genes can be useful
therapeutically, for example, if the silenced gene is a tumor-suppressor
gene. Restoration can be accomplished by supplying non-methylated copies
of the silenced genes or polynucleotides encoding their encoded products.
Alternatively, restoration can be accomplished using chemical
demethylating agents or methylation inhibitors. Kits for testing for
epigenetic silencing can be used in the context of diagnostics,
prognostics, or for selecting "personalized medicine" treatments.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016]There is a need in the art in a novel technique enabling
verification of personalized data and keeping it up-to-date in real-time,
enabling to provide for example personalized medicine technique based on
up-to-date authenticated personal records.

[0017]A serious issue with Internet use is the fact that it is difficult
to verify the identity of communicating individuals. This relative
difficulty in verifying an identity of surfing individuals is an issue in
carrying out transactions, such as the purchase of goods or services,
over the Internet. The difficulty in verifying identities of `surfing`
individuals is also a serious issue when confronting a certain individual
who identifies himself to be someone other than he really is. Abuse of
this nature is a serious issue in Internet chat rooms, in dating services
and in many other cases.

[0018]The present invention provides a novel method and system for use of
a database of authenticated identified individuals. In accordance with
the invention a computerized system is provided that permits users of a
computer network, particularly, but not exclusively, the Internet, to
input data on themselves and related individuals and based on that,
optionally with verification of data input by other individuals, a
database of individuals, users and non-users, and their relationships is
constructed. The method and system of the invention have a variety of
different commercial utilities as will be elucidated by the different
aspects and embodiments described below.

[0019]Thus, according to one broad aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for using and managing a database, the method
comprising: providing a verified database of a plurality of identified
individuals, the verified database comprising a plurality of
individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data; and
processing said verified database in accordance with one or more selected
parameters and creating a sub-group database including data records of
the individuals from the verified database having said one or more
selected parameters or conditions, thereby allowing collection of data
characterized by the one or more selected parameters or conditions and
delivery of at least part of the collected data to one or more users.

[0020]The verified database may be provided as follows: A plurality of
individuals are permitted to enter individual-associated data bits (IDBs)
into a computerized system, where each of the IDBs comprises at least one
personal identifier relating to the individual and relationship data
comprising data on one or more related individuals and the nature of
relationship. The entered IDBs are processed to generate the IDS, one for
each identified individual, being either the same individual who has
entered the individual-associated data bits or one of the related
individuals. Then, the verified database comprising IDSs of identified
individuals is constructed.

[0021]In some embodiments of the invention, the processing of the verified
database in accordance with one or more selected parameters or conditions
is initiated by a request from a user. The user initiating a request may
or may not be the individual whose data is included in the verified
database. For example, such user may be constituted by a certain company
requesting services from the system of the present invention, to collect
data from and/or deliver certain information to the individuals included
in the sub-group database.

[0022]According to some embodiments of the invention, the processing of
the verified database comprises generating a request to at least some of
the individuals whose data is included into the verified database to
provide additional data according to the one or more selected parameters
or conditions. This additional data may be used for updating the verified
database, so as to construct the sub-group database from the updated
verified database.

[0023]The one or more parameters may be selected according to one of the
following applications: a commercial application, sectorial and targeted
marketing application, a statistical application, an identifying
application selected from identifying a hostile person, a lost person, a
relationship between a deceased person and living person, a family
application.

[0024]According to another broad aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for managing and using a database of identified
individuals, the method comprising: (a) permitting a plurality of users
to enter individual-associated data bits (IDBs) into a computerized
system, each of the IDBs comprising at least one personal identifier
relating to the user and relationship data comprising data on one or more
related individuals and the nature of relationship; (b) processing the
entered IDBs to generate an individual-identifier data set (IDS), one for
each identified individual, being either one of the users or one of the
related individuals and construct a verified database comprising IDSs of
identified individuals; and (c) processing information in said verified
database in accordance with one or parameters or condition selected for
at least one commercial application.

[0025]According to some embodiments of the invention the processing
results may be used for creating a medical database of at least some of
the identified individuals. Such medical database may comprise
information pertaining to at least one of a disease, a medical condition,
a genotype, a phenotype, a family relationship; and a geographic location
of at least one of the identified individuals. The commercial application
may be based upon personalized medicine.

[0026]Thus, according to yet further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for using and managing a database, the method
comprising: [0027]providing a verified database of a plurality of
identified individuals, the verified database comprising a plurality of
individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data; and
[0028]processing said verified database in accordance with one or more
parameters or conditions selected in accordance with at least one medical
application and creating a sub-group database including data records of
the individuals from the verified database having said one or more
selected parameters or conditions, thereby allowing collection of data
comprising one or more selected parameters or conditions and delivery of
at least part of the collected data to one or more users and enable to
apply data from said verified database to provide personalized medicine
service to at least one of said identified individuals.

[0029]The selected parameters or conditions, in addition to said
parameter(s) or condition(s) selected in accordance with at least one
medical application, may include at least one parameter or condition
selected according to one of the following applications: a commercial
application, sectorial and targeted marketing application, a statistical
application, an identifying application selected from identifying a
hostile person, a lost person, a relationship between a deceased person
and living person, a family application.

[0030]The processing of the verified database may comprise creation of a
medical database of at least some of the identified individuals. Such
medical database may comprise information pertaining to at least one of a
disease, a medical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a family
relationship; and a geographic location of at least one of said
identified individuals.

[0031]In some embodiments of the invention, the medical application is
based upon personalized medicine. At least one personal medical record
may be combined with data from the verified database. The personalized
medicine service may be selected from a personalized treatment service, a
personalized prevention service and a personalized prediction service.

[0032]According to yet another broad aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computerized system for managing and using a database over a
computer network, the system comprising a server system linked to the
network and accessible by users via their communication devices
connectable to the network, said server system comprising a processor
utility, which is associated with a verified database of a plurality of
identified individuals comprising a plurality of individual-identifier
data sets (IDSs) and relationship data and which is adapted to carry out
the following: process said verified database in accordance with one or
more parameters or conditions selected according to at least one medical
application and create a sub-group database comprising data about at
least some of the identified individuals characterized by said one or
more selected parameters or conditions, and apply data from said verified
database in order to provide a personalized medicine service to at least
one of said identified individuals.

[0033]The processor utility may be configured to be responsive to a user
request to perform processing of the verified database and creation of
the sub-group database. In some embodiments of the invention, the server
system includes a second processing utility configured to be responsive
to a command from the first processing utility to generate a request to
at least some of the identified individuals to provide additional data
according to said one more parameters and conditions to thereby updating
of the sub-group database. The second processing utility may be
configured for updating the verified database with said additional data.

[0034]The first processing utility may be configured for using the
sub-group database for collecting certain information from and/delivering
certain information to at least some of the identified individuals of the
sub-group database.

[0035]The system may also be configured for constructing the verified
database as described above. The server system(s) may be configured to
present at least some of the identified individuals with a classified
offer or provide certain targeted information.

[0036]In some embodiments of the invention, the sub-group database
comprises a medical database comprising information pertaining to at
least one of a disease, a medical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a
family relationship; and a geographic location of at least one of said
identified individuals.

[0037]The processing of the verified database may include filtering the
information in said database to create a sub-group of identified
individuals. Then, at least one of a product and a service may be
provided to at least one individual of said sub-group database. This may
be responsive to the information pertaining to the at least one
individual. The processing of the database may include geographical
mapping of identified individuals of the sub-group. Providing of the
individual(s) with at least one product or service may be responsive to
the geographic location of the at least one individual.

[0038]In some embodiments of the invention, the processing of the verified
database is aimed at constructing a family database for each individual.
This may be carried out as follows: constructing at least two IDSs for
corresponding at least two identified first individuals; identifying at
least two IDSs having overlapping relationship data including at least
one identical identified individual in the corresponding relationship
data; and consolidating the at least two relationship data pieces to
construct an expanded relationship data record. For example, an expanded
family database may be constructed that comprises all family databases
which are overlapping family databases and comprise data identifying the
connection between individual of the expanded family database.

[0039]The results of the processing may be presented (displayed) to the
individual(s). For example, an individual can receive information on
his/her position in the relationship web or part thereof.

[0040]According to yet another broad aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computerized system for managing and using a database over a
computer network, the system comprising a server system linked to the
network and accessible by users via their communication devices
connectable to the network, said server system comprising a processor
utility being associated with a verified database of a plurality of
identified individuals comprising a plurality of individual-identifier
data sets (IDSs) and relationship data and being adapted to process said
verified database in accordance with one or more selected parameters or
conditions and creating a sub-group database comprising data about at
least some of the identified individuals characterized by said one or
more selected parameters or conditions.

[0041]The processor utility may be configured to be responsive to a user
request to perform the above processing of the verified database and
creation of the sub-group database.

[0042]In some embodiments of the invention, the server system comprises a
second processing utility configured to be responsive to a command from
the first processing utility to generate a request to at least some of
the identified individuals to provide additional data according to the
one more parameters and conditions to thereby update the sub-group
database and/or the main verified database.

[0043]The first processing utility may be configured for using the
sub-group database for collecting certain information from and/delivering
certain information to at least some of the identified individuals of
said sub-group database.

[0044]According to yet further broad aspect of the invention, there is
provided a computerized system for commercial use of a database of
identified individuals operating over a computer network, comprising: one
or more server systems linked to the network accessible by clients
communicating over the network; the one or more server systems being
configured to receive a plurality of individual-associated data bits
(IDBs) entered by clients, the IDBs comprising personal identifiers and
relationship data, the relationship data comprising data on one or more
related individuals and the nature of relationship, to generate an
individual-identifier data set (IDS), one for each identified individual,
being either one of the users or one of the related individuals, to
process all the IDSs to construct a verified database comprising IDSs of
identified individuals and their position in a relationship web, and to
process the information in said verified database according to at least
one selected parameter or condition and create a corresponding sub-group
database of at least some of said identified individuals.

[0045]While the invention will now be described in connection with certain
preferred embodiments in the following examples and with reference to the
attached figures so that aspects thereof may be more fully understood and
appreciated, it is not intended to limit the invention to these
particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus, the
following examples which include preferred embodiments will serve to
illustrate the practice of this invention, it being understood that the
particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative
discussion of preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are
presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most
useful and readily understood description of formulation procedures as
well as of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046]In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be
carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by
way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:

[0047]FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an
interactive method for constructing a main, users' related verified
databases, useful for the purpose of the present invention;

[0048]FIG. 2 a schematic pictorial illustration of a computer system 200
for creating a database of users' related data in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention

[0049]FIG. 3A illustrates a block diagram of a database managing system
according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0050]FIG. 3B is a simplified block diagram of an interactive system 350
for providing users/patients with a personalized medicine service;

[0051]FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a method for
constructing IDSs and ascribing a reliability score in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;

[0052]FIG. 5 exemplifies an embodiment of comparing data bits on an
individual obtained from two different IDBs;

[0053]FIG. 6A is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an
embodiment of step 320 of FIG. 4;

[0054]FIG. 6B is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an
embodiment of step 120 of FIG. 1;

[0055]FIG. 7A is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an
embodiment of step 130 of FIG. 1;

[0056]FIG. 7B is a simplified schematic illustration showing family
structures and corresponding symbols, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an
embodiment of step 720 of FIG. 7A;

[0058]FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an
embodiment of step 140 of FIG. 1;

[0059]FIG. 10A is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a medical
use of the database of FIG. 1;

[0060]FIG. 10B is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a method
for using the database of FIG. 1 for medical applications for a selected
group of individuals;

[0061]FIG. 10c is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a
commercial method for using the database of FIG. 1 for medical
applications for a selected group of individuals;

[0062]FIG. 10D exemplifies a layered structure of the verified database
family tree including medical data records;

[0063]FIG. 10E exemplifies how the system of the present invention
cooperates with a medical center to provide a user or care taker with a
clinical profile, personalized information and custom services;

[0064]FIG. 10F is an exemplary illustration of merged family trees (each
shaded area representing a separately created family tree that merged
with the others), data on at least some individuals that includes medical
information;

[0065]FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart for providing a personalized
medicine optimal dosage/dosage regimen of a drug, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;

[0066]FIG. 12 is a simplified flowchart for providing a personalized
medicine forward prediction of a disease or disorder, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067]FIG. 13 is a simplified flowchart for providing a personalized
preventative program to an individual, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention;

[0068]FIG. 14 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a
commercial method for using the database of FIG. 1 for
marketing/statistical applications in a selected group of individuals;
and

[0069]FIG. 15 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a
commercial method for using the database of FIG. 1 for a legal
application in a selected group of individuals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0070]In the present specification the words "individual" and "person" may
be used interchangeably. The term "user" will be used to denote an
individual who uses the system and the method described below and who
enters or views data entered or database items generated in accordance
with the invention.

[0071]The term "network" or "computer network", as used above and further
below, denotes any communication network that permits many users to
communicate with one another, exchange information and files, etc. The
network is in particular the Internet, although not exclusively. The
network may also be, for example, an Intranet. The term "network" should
be construed in a broad sense as including different forms of
communication that permit transmission of data between a plurality of
data transceivers. This includes, but not limited to, computerized
networks such as the Internet in which computerized devices, e.g.
personal or handheld computers, can be employed for entering and/or
receiving data; it may be a line telephone network, in which data may,
for example, be entered through the use of the numerical keyboard, e.g.
by following an audible menu; a cellular network, through which users
communicate using mobile communication devices; and any combinations
thereof.

[0072]For construction of the database useful for the applications subject
of the invention, a plurality of users are permitted to enter
individual-associated data bits (IDBs) into a computerized system. Each
of the IDBs comprises at least one personal identifier relating to the
user and relationship data comprising data on one or more related
individuals and the nature of relationship. The IDBs are then processed
to generate an individual-identifier data set (IDS), one for each
identified individual, being either one of the users or one of the
related individuals. A database comprising IDSs of identified individuals
is thereby constructed.

[0073]The database comprises individual-identifying data records
constructed by processing a plurality of individual-associated data bits
(IDBs) entered by a plurality of users of a computerized system. Each IDB
comprises at least one personal identifier on the user and relationship
data on one or more related individuals and the nature of relationship.
An individual-identifier data set (IDS) is thus constructed, one for each
identified individual, which either one of said users or one of said
related individuals. A database comprising IDSs for identified
individuals and their position in a relationship web is eventually
generated.

[0074]The term "permitting" used above and further below denotes providing
individuals with an access to perform the action specified. This may be,
by one embodiment, broadcasting a user interface consisting of one or
more electronic forms or pages over a computer network, in which
individuals can enter data. The user interface has typically data entry
fields for entry of the IDBs. The fields may include fixed fields where
data may be entered in the form of text, by selecting or marking one of
plurality of options, by free text entry fields, etc. Such filed may
include essential fields and optional fields. By another embodiment, this
may include providing users with the ability to transmit an electronic
file containing the data. Such an electronic file may be transmitted over
the network, or may be transmitted off-line through any other suitable
carrier of electronic information such as CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, a
flash card, etc. As is clear, the invention is not limited by the manner
in which the data is entered.

[0075]The term "individual-associated data bits" or "IDBs" denotes a group
of data pieces that relate to the individual entering the data. Each of
the IDBs may be unique for a specific individual and may include a
minimum set of data that permits to identify an individual at a certain
degree of probability and includes some personal identifiers and
relationship data. The IDBs comprise both personal identifiers and
relationship data, defined below. The IDBs may also include other data
pieces such as family stories, information entered by a data-entering
individual for the benefit of others that view his IDB and in general any
information a data-entering individual wishes to associate with data
related to him/her.

[0076]The term "personal identifiers" denotes pieces of data on an
individual. The personal identifier of an individual may be entered by
that individual or may, at times, be entered by other users to form the
IDS (defined below). Personal identifiers may include formal identifiers
such as name, address, birth date, etc., and other identifiers such
education, profession, interests, hobbies, health data, blood type,
tissue type, genetic profile, martial status, etc. The entered data may
typically include a minimum set of data that can jointly identify an
individual with some degree of probability. Said minimum set of data
typically include a combination of identifiers that distinguish the
specific individual from others; namely the chance of mistaking such an
individual for another is relatively low. Said minimum set of data should
preferably be entered both with respect to the personal identifiers as
well as with respect to the relationship data. Such minimum set of data
typically include familial data, namely at least some data relating to
the individuals family.

[0077]The term "relationship data" denotes pieces of data that relate to
individuals that the data-entering individual has some form of
relationship with. Particular example includes other individuals with
whom the data-entering individual has some form of family ties. These may
include first degree family members (parents, brothers and sisters,
spouse, children) as well as further (second, third, etc.) degree family
members (grandparents, cousins, in-laws, etc.). The family members
included in the relationship data may be living and/or dead. In addition,
the relationship data may also include data on other type of related
individuals including friends, acquaintances, neighbors, business
colleagues or associates, members of societies or organizations to which
the individual belongs, and others. The relationship data, in addition to
including some formal identifiers of the related individuals, includes
also data relating to the type of relationship, whether it is past and/or
present relationship, etc.

[0078]The term "individual-identifier data set" or "IDS" denotes a set of
data pertaining to an identified individual. The IDBs entered by an
individual are processed to generate an IDS for each identified
individual. The IDS may include data based on that entered by the
entering individual, optionally differently arranged; or may be refined
data, namely data that was initially processed, for example: to correct
inherent inconsistencies; eliminate data which is inherently inconsistent
and the inconsistency cannot be resolved; data corrected on the basis of
IDBs entered by other individuals (see below); ascribing a reliability
score to each of the IDBs (see below); etc. In its basic form, the IDS is
based on the IDBs entered by an individual user. In fact an IDS will be
constructed for every identified individual for whom personal identifiers
were included in entered IDBs. This includes an IDS for the data-entering
individual and any other identified individual for whom personal
identifiers were included among the IDBs. Initially, the IDS may be
constructed on the basis of IDBs entered by a single individual user.
Once more IDBs are entered by different users, data on identified
individuals may also be entered an included in IDBs of other users and
once processed it may be included in an IDS for that identified
individual, which may be either a new IDS if that identified individual
was not hitherto included in the system or may be additional data added
to an already existing IDS of an identified individual. The IDS for an
identified individual may thus be continuously updated upon relevant data
entry by other individuals.

[0079]It is possible that the IDBs do not contain sufficient information
for unequivocal one-to-one identification of each identified individual.
For example, an IDB of person A may include relationship data on person B
with personal identifiers that include the name of person B and the
nature of relationships between person A and person B. This information
may be insufficient to unequivocally identify person B. Similarly, some
personal identifiers of person B may also be included in IDBs entered by
another person C. Thus, initially, two separate IDSs may be formed for
person B. Once the two IDSs are being recognized as belonging to the same
person A, the data included in them may be consolidated into one IDS.

[0080]The IDSs are typically constructed from IDBs entered by two or more
different individuals. Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention, at least one IDS, but preferably a plurality of IDSs are each
constructed from IDBs entered by two or more individuals. As will also be
noted further below, IDSs may be updated by newly entered relevant IDBs
(namely IDBs including data relating to the identified individual
associated with the IDS to be updated), typically on an on-going basis.

[0081]The term "individual" in a phrase such as "individual associated
with the IDS" or "IDS associated with an individual" or any other phrase
with a similar meaning, is being used herein to denote the individual who
is the subject of the IDS (the primary record in the IDS relates to that
individual).

[0082]The term "identified individual" relates to each individual, datum
on whom was included in one or more entered IDBs. This includes the
data-entering individual and any related individual included in the
user's entered IDBs.

[0083]The term "relationship web" refers to a virtual web of nodes and
lines, each node being one of the identified individuals and the lines,
being relationship lines (see below) connect each node to one or more
other nodes in the relationship web. Each such line may also have
associated identifiers that define the type of relationship between the
two individuals. The term "relationship web" should not be construed only
in a graphical sense. Rather, the relationship web may be represented in
many different representations including that of nodes and lines or any
other graphical representation manner, in a form of data tables, it may
be a virtual web generated within a computer, etc.

[0084]The term "relationship line" will be used to define a direct
relationship link between individuals in the relationship web (a direct
relationship link being, for example, first degree family, personal
friends, business colleagues, etc. Distance between individuals in a
relationship web may thus be defined in terms of a number of relationship
lines. For example, three relationship lines to an individual in a
relationship web of friends, mean a friend of a friend of a friend. As
another example, two or three connecting lines to an individual in a
family tree mean, respectively, a second degree (e.g. grandparent,
grandson, uncle, brother/sister-in-law, etc.) or a third degree (first
cousin, great grandparent, etc.) family ties.

[0085]The commercial use of the database may be through a computerized
system operating over a computer network. Such system comprises one or
more system servers linked to the network accessible by clients
communicating over the network; said one or more servers being configured
to receive a plurality of individual-associated data bits (IDBs) entered
by clients.

[0086]The commercial application, which may be online or offline provided,
may, for example, include: applications in human medicine, e.g. for
tracing and treating familial diseases; sectorial and targeted marketing;
demographic population studies; identifying a hostile person, a lost
person, a relationship between a deceased person and living person;

[0087]formation of a family portal; and many others.

[0088]The computerized system is preferably operative over a computer
network such as the Internet and typically comprises one or more
appropriately configured servers, linked to the network. Individuals can
then access the system through the network.

[0089]The relationship web may, typically, be constructed and presented in
the form of family tree in which each identified individual is presented
as a node and the relationship web as connectors between nodes.

[0090]The term "family tree" used in this patent specification should be
construed in a broad sense as relating to a data base of a few persons
and at least some of their familial relationship. The family tree may be
represented graphically in one of many different graphical representation
means of such information; may be stored as data records within a
computer (the data record including at least one identifier for each
person and one or more family relationships to one or more other
individuals in the family tree); or both. A family tree may also be
thought of as a graph (which may be graphically represented or be a
virtual representation within a computer) in which connecting lines
represent the family relationships and the nodes represent the persons of
the family tree (to be referred to herein at times as "nodes"). The term
"family tree" should thus be expansively construed to include any model
for organizing one or more data repositories in a hierarchical
arrangement comprising at least parent and children nodes. It should be
understood that a tree may be of different complexity, e.g. be as simple
as one parent and one child, as complex as the theoretical "single family
tree" that links all data in the repositories, etc.; two or more trees
may overlap, or one tree may completely include one or more other trees.

[0091]The relationship web may include family trees that are merged
together to yield merged and enlarged family trees.

[0092]The entered IDBs, that will subsequently be included in the IDS
associated with the data-entering individual, may also include personal
data that, once included in the database, may benefit an individual (the
data-entering individual, or another) under defined circumstances. Such
data may, for example, be blood type, histocompatability data, genetic
data, etc. In case of a surgery, blood transfusion or another emergency
medical procedure, this will permit a rapid search for a suitable donor
of blood, tissue, etc. By another example, by entering various personal
descriptors such as personal interests, hobbies or occupation, personal
history or background, etc., typically inserted in dedicated fields,
sub-group databases may be constructed based thereon. For example, a
sub-group database for individuals that have all a common medical history
or physiological parameter, e.g. blood or tissue type, or physiological
condition (certain disease) may be constructed.

[0093]Typically with more data on an individual, preferably classified,
there may be an increase in the number and/or extent of uses in
accordance with the invention. For example, certain data on individuals
may permit to associate individuals with other individuals with matching
personal descriptors which may then made part of a virtual community (see
below). Such association may be defined through inclusion in a sub-group
database. Becoming a member of a virtual community may be beneficial as
it may serve as a forum for exchange of ideas, for coordinating
activities, for business transactions, etc. Data entered into an IDB may
include information which may be broadcasted over the computer network or
shared with others. Also, personal descriptors may permit to provide, in
accordance with the invention, targeted services, information, offers,
etc.

[0094]The IDS is a personal data record that typically comprises a main
data record including data on a first person, which is the individual
associated with the personal data record, and one or more sub-records
including personal identifiers on one or more second, related persons and
the nature of their relations (including, but not limited, to family
ties) to the first person. The sub-records may include data other than
the personal identifiers and the relationship data may at times include
links to such data included, for example, in the IDSs of the second
persons. The IDS may be a product of consolidation of data from a
plurality of IDBs that include data on the first person or data on
relationship of second persons to the first person. For example, a person
A who is a cousin of person B and a sibling of person C may have its name
and possibly other identifiers included in IDBs entered by persons B and
C. Thus, an IDS can be constructed for person A, in which any personal
attributes about him, including his name, comprised in the IDBs entered
by persons B and C will be included in the main record of such IDS, which
will include also sub-records assigned to persons B and C identifying
them as a cousin and sibling, respectively.

[0095]The processing of the IDB-originating data may comprise a
verification procedure of one or more of the IDBs entered by an
individual through comparison with IDBs entered by one or more other
individuals. A data bit included among the IDBs entered by an individual
that is verified through data bits included in the IDBs of one or more
other individuals, has an a priori higher probability of being correct
than a non-verified data bit. Furthermore, verification of a number of
data bits included in the IDBs of one individual through data entered by
another, may provide a measure of reliability of the entered data and
thus serve as an indirect measure of verification of data bits that were
not verified by the IDBs of one or more other individuals.

[0096]The verification process may include ascribing a reliability score
to data bits included in the IDBs of an individual to the entire IDBs, to
the IDS produced on the basis thereof or a portion thereof, e.g. a
reliability score to the personal identifier of the individual associated
with the IDS, based on the extent of data verification. The reliability
score may be based on the degree of correspondence between the IDBs
entered by different individuals. By one embodiment, a reliability score
is ascribed to each of the data pieces entered by an individual.
Additionally, an overall reliability score for the IDS or at least the
personal identifiers of the associated individual may be calculated, e.g.
based on the reliability scores of the different IDBs. Other factors that
may influence the reliability score include the extent of relationship
data on related individuals included in the IDS, namely the number of
relationship lines linking the identified individual to other identified
individuals, and the reliability score of the related individuals
identified in the IDS.

[0097]The reliability score or a reliability indicator based thereon may
be included in the database. The reliability indicator may, for example
be graded between poor to good, may be a score, e.g. from 1 to 10, etc.
The reliability score may be made to be accessible to users who review
the IDS of an identified individual to permit them to get a sense on the
IDS's reliability. At times the IDS of an identified individual will be
included in the database only if it is equal or greater than a
predetermined value. The IDSs then form the basis for a database of
identified individuals. An important feature of the database is that it
includes also the position of the individual in a relationship web, said
position being definable through the links of any individual to others.

[0098]The relationship web, or typically only portions thereof relevant
for an identified individual, may be represented to the individual in one
or more of a variety of different ways. It may be represented in the form
of nodes and connecting lines, as described above. By way of an
illustrative example, each node may appear with some basic identifiers,
e.g. name, address or picture, and then each node may hyperlink to a more
detailed description or a web page of the specific individual. By way of
another example, the relationship web may be represented in one of a
variety of graphical representation means for representing family trees.
The viewing user may be permitted to `navigate` through the relationship
web, for example through moving a cursor to different nodes and possibly
viewing node-related data, i.e. the IDS or part thereof, e.g. by
`clicking` on a node. As will be appreciated such a navigation mode is a
non-limiting illustrative example only.

[0099]The relationship web may be presented such that a node representing
the viewing user is in the center with lines connecting his associated
node to all his related individuals. In the case of a family relation,
for example, direct lines may typically connect to first degree relations
and indirect lines, namely lines that lead through a point representing
another individual may connect to second and further degree relatives,
e.g. a line to a grandparent or a nephew, will connect through a parent
and a sibling, respectively. This manner of display as described above is
not limiting but rather an illustrative example. By way of another
example, while navigating through the relationship web, the individual
which is the focus of review may be displayed in the center. Furthermore,
graphic display of the relationship web is also only a non-limiting
illustrative embodiment. For example, the relationship web for an
individual may be presented in the form of a table listing the various
relations under different categories, possibly with hyperlinks to the
mentioned individuals.

[0100]The relationship web for an identified individual may include a
variety of different types of relationships. One type of relationships
are such entered as part of the IDBs and may include family; current
friends, business associates, co-members of organizations or societies,
employees, employers, work colleagues, etc.; past friends, business
associates, co-members of organizations or societies, employees,
employers, work colleagues, etc. However, there may also be other types
of relationships that may be entered by the computerized system. For
example, where an identified individual is identified as one with a
certain scope of interest, hobby, as one having a specific background or
origin, etc., the relationship web may be constructed to include other
individuals with similar scope of interest, hobby, background or origin,
etc., either globally, one linked to a certain geographic location and so
forth.

[0101]The family of an individual, including identifiers of family members
and the nature of the relationship of other family members with the
individual, typically provides a clear and unequivocal identification of
a specific individual. For constructing a database a plurality of
individual-associated data bits (IDBs) entered by a plurality of users of
a computerized system are processed. Each of the IDBS comprises personal
identifiers and relationship data comprising data on one or more
family-related individuals and the nature of relationship. In this manner
an individual-identifier data set (IDS) is obtained, one for each
identified individual, being either one of said users or one of said
related individuals. All the IDSs are processed to construct a database
comprising IDSs of identified individuals. The database may also provide
an indication of the position of the identified individuals in a
relationship web.

[0102]Different identified individuals in a family web have different
family relationships. In other words, the family relationships of
different individuals, even within the same family, will have only a
partial overlap with one another. By virtue of such a partial overlap,
once a family of one individual becomes linked to another and then to
that of another and so forth, this may yield, eventually, an essentially
global relationship web.

[0103]The IDS for each first individual includes data on other, second
individuals with whom the first individual has some form of relationship,
particularly, but not exclusively, family relationships. Thus, the IDS of
each individual may be viewed as a relationship databases, in particular
a family database of individuals related to said first individual. Thus,
two or more IDSs that have at least one overlapping node may provide a
basis for merging of relationship webs, particularly family trees, to one
another. Thus, at least two constructed IDSs for corresponding at least
two identified first individuals are constructed; at least two IDSs
having overlapping relationship data records including at least one
identical identified individual in the corresponding relationship data
records are identified; and then the at least two relationship data
records are consolidated to construct an expanded relationship data
record. A specific example involves the construction of an expanded
family data record.

[0104]The relationship web may also have different layers. For example one
layer of family, another layer of friends, a further layer of business
colleagues, etc.

[0105]The relationship web may also be displayed in a hierarchical way.
For example, in the case of an individual with a common interest or
hobby, as there may be large number of individuals with such an interest
or hobby, rather then showing a link to each individual with the same
interest or hobby, the relationship web may provide a link to a webpage,
for example, that will link all individual in a given region or location
sharing the same interest or hobby. Such a webpage may then link to
individual sharing the same interest or hobby in other regions or
locations; or a link to a global webpage of individuals with the shared
interest or hobby, which will have links to regional web pages of such
individuals and so forth, eventually down to the level of the different
individuals.

[0106]While it is possible to permit an identified individual to review
the entire relationship web, in a typical mode of implementation of the
invention, the individual is permitted to review only a portion thereof
relevant to that individual (such portion to be referred to, in some
places, as "individual relationship web"). Such portion may be a
system-wide predefined portion. For example, an individual relationship
web of family members may include all family relationships up to a
certain distance, namely up to a certain relationship lines distance. As
another example, a relationship web of friends or business colleagues may
also have a limit, e.g. up to two lines, i.e. a friend of a friend or a
business colleague of a business colleague, respectively.

[0107]By another example, in addition or in the alternative, each
identified individual may be given the option of defining the level of
his/her `visibility` to other individuals, namely defining the portions
of the IDS that my be reviewed by users. For example, an individual may
be given the option of defining permissions to viewing the IDS or portion
thereof, e.g. based on distance in terms of number of relationship lines
or by another relationship parameter, based on a certain profile (such as
all individuals with a certain defined scope of interest, residence in a
certain geographical location, etc.), or using any other criterion.

[0108]Any identified individual may also, according to an embodiment of
the invention, define the extent in which his IDS or portions thereof
should be privileged. Also, under another embodiment, each identified
individual may define or provide criteria on identified individual that
may not be entitled to review all or portions of his IDS. The permissions
and/or privilege criteria may apply to the entire IDS or portions
thereof. Also, different criteria may be applied to different portions of
an IDS.

[0109]As will be appreciated, the relationship web is not static but is
rather dynamic and grows upon addition of identified individuals,
additional relationship lines and additions or updates to the already
existing IDSs, as more users of the network enter their IDBs. On some
occasions a new user who newly enters his IDBs may already be an
identified individual through the IDBs entered by another individual. On
other occasions such a new user may not be an identified individual but
one or more of his related individuals may already be an identified
individual. On other occasions both a new user and his related
individuals may be new to the system. In the two former cases, the newly
entered data will be incorporated in the already existing relationship
web. In the latter case, the entered data will form an independent
separate relationship web until such time as it will become linked
through new data entered by later new users.

[0110]An identified individual may receive an automatic notification, e.g.
to a computerized or other communication device associated with the
individual or to an electronic address associated with him in case of
developments relating to him or his relationship web, i.e. updates in his
IDS through IDBs added by others; for example, new data relating to him,
new family members added to his family tree, new or updated data on
existing individuals in his relationship web entered by other users, and
a variety of other news relating to his relationship web. The
computerized device may, for example be a computer in which case the
notification may be an email; a communication device may, for example, be
a mobile communication device and the notification may be in the form of
an SMS message.

[0111]Another use of the method and system of the invention is in
commercial applications based on identified relationships between
individuals. The main database, constructed as described above, and
including all the IDSs and the relationship data is used for at least one
commercial application. For example, a sub-group database may be created
from the contents of the main database and possibly from additionally
requested information, according to one or more predetermined criteria to
enable classified proposals or information to selected users.

[0112]The method according to an embodiment of the invention comprises:
providing a server system that is capable of filtering or mapping the
contents of the main database to permit to channel classified information
or proposals to selected users. The server thus selects users to receive
specific proposals or information.

[0113]In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an association,
group or a constructed virtual community of individuals may provide a
useful means for promoting sales of a product or service within the
common scope of interest of individuals of such association, group or
virtual community. Such sales promotion may be through distribution of
electronic promotion material, placing advertisements on relevant virtual
bulletin boards, etc. The target individuals, according to some
embodiments, may be a group of individuals sharing all one or more common
identifiers.

[0114]The database generated in accordance with the invention is another
of its aspects. Such a database may be a highly useful tool for
demographic research. Such use constitutes an additional aspect of the
invention. Thus, the database of the invention may be useful for data
mining. In addition, the database may be useful for conducting of surveys
or opinion polls, etc. In the latter case, the database may be used for
sending questionnaires to individuals with specific, predefined profiles.

[0115]The database of the present invention may be used for commercial
purposes, exemplified, but not limited to, the examples described
hereinbelow.

[0116]Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to using the
database for marketing. In some cases, the marketing application is a
sectorial marketing application selected from an on-line and an offline
sectorial marketing application.

[0117]Some further embodiments of the present invention are directed to
using the database for advertising. In some cases, the advertising is
selected from electronic media advertising, paper media advertising and
banner advertising.

[0118]Some additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to
using the database for a statistical or demographic research application.
The statistical application may be selected from gathering statistics
relating to at least one of a family, a geographic sector, a political
sector and a virtual community.

[0119]This invention is further directed to methods for using the database
for a medical application. The medical application may be selected from
one pertaining to a blood-related disease, e.g. finding a donor for a
blood transfusion or a blood component transplant, one pertaining to a
genetic disease, a personalized medical treatment and others.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0120]In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth
in order to provide an understanding of the invention. However, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specific
embodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also in
different ways that embody the characterizing features of the invention
as described and claimed herein.

[0121]Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following
discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification
discussions utilizing terms such as "processing", "computing",
"calculating", "determining", "deriving", "generating" or the like, refer
to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or
processor or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or
transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities
within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data,
similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing
system's memories, registers or other such information storage,
transmission or display devices.

[0122]Embodiments of the present invention may use terms such as,
processor, computer, apparatus, system, sub-system, module, unit, device
(in single or plural form) for performing the operations herein. This may
be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a
general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a
computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be
stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited
to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs,
Disk-on-Key, smart cards (e.g. SIM, chip cards, etc.), magnetic-optical
disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs),
electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically
erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or
optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic
instructions capable of being conveyed via a computer system bus.

[0123]The processors/devices presented herein are not inherently related
to any particular electronic component or other apparatus, unless
specifically stated otherwise. Various general purpose components may be
used in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient
to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method.
The desired structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the
description below. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are
not described with reference to any particular programming language. It
will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used
to implement the teachings of the inventions as described herein.

[0124]Similarly, the computerized system described herein is also not
necessarily related to a specific physical entity. The computerized
system may use general components, such as servers, routers, etc., or may
use specialized apparatuses design specifically for use in accordance
with the teaching of the invention.

[0125]It should be understood that the methods of the present invention
are exemplified by the figures herein, but not limited thereto.

[0126]Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 100 illustrating a manner of constructing a main, users'
related database, useful for the purposes of the present invention.

[0127]Users are permitted to enter individual-associated data bits (IDBs)
into a computerized system (step 110). The obtained IDBs include each a
personal identifier, which includes data relating to the user and
relationship data. The relationship data includes data on the user
himself and data on one or more related individuals, typically, although
not exclusively, individuals related to the data-entering individual by
family. The relationship data also includes data on the nature of
relationship with the related individuals (e.g. child, parent, sibling,
etc.). The IDBs are processed (step 120), to generate IDSs (step 130),
one for each identified individual. A verified database of IDSs is then
constructed (step 140) which includes the IDSs of all identified
individuals 142 and a relationship web 144, the latter including data on
the relationship links between identified individuals. The relationship
web may be one merged relationship web from all individuals or may
include a plurality of such webs for different groups of identified
individuals.

[0128]Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a schematic pictorial
illustration of a computer system 200 for creating a database of users'
related data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0129]It should be understood that many variations to this system are
envisaged, and this embodiment should not be construed as limiting. For
example, a facsimile system or a phone device (wired telephone or mobile
phone) may be designed to be connectable to a computer network (e.g. the
Internet). Interactive televisions may be used for inputting and
receiving data from the Internet. In some cases, the systems described
herein may communicate via Intranet, Internet and combinations thereof.
Additionally, new methods and systems for communication, beyond those of
the existing Intranet/Internet are deemed to be usable for the methods of
the present invention.

[0130]System 200 typically includes a server utility 210, which may
include one or a plurality of servers and one or more control computer
terminals 212 for programming, trouble-shooting servicing and other
functions. Server utility 210 is linked to the Internet 220 (constituting
a computer network) through link 222, for running system website 223 and
for communication with the users. Users may communicate with the server
through a plurality of user computers 230, which may be mainframe
computers with terminals that permit individual to access a network,
personal computers, portable computers, small hand-held computers and
other, that are linked to the Internet 220 through a plurality of links
224. The Internet link of each of computers 230 may be direct through a
landline or a wireless line, or may be indirect, for example through an
intranet that is linked through an appropriate server to the Internet.
The system may also operate through communication protocols between
computers over the Internet which technique is known to a person versed
in the art and will not be elaborated herein. Users may also communicate
with the system through portable communication devices such as 3rd
generation mobile phones 240, communicating with the Internet through a
corresponding communication system (e.g. cellular system) 250 connectable
to the Internet through link 252. As will readily be appreciated, this is
a very simplified description, although the details should be clear to
the artisan. Also, it should be noted that the invention is not limited
to the user-associated communication devices--computers and portable and
mobile communication devices--and a variety of others such as an
interactive television system may also be used. The system 200 also
typically includes at least one call and/or user support center 260. The
service center typically provides both on-line and off-line services to
users from the at least one professional. The server system 210 is
configured according to the invention to carry out the above-described
method for creating the main verified database including the IDSs of all
identified individuals and the relationship web, based on data received
from the users, being initiated in either pull or push mode.

[0131]Reference is now made to FIG. 3A, which is a block diagram of a
database managing system 221 according to an embodiment of the invention.
System 221 is configured as a server system, in the meaning that it is a
computer system linked to a communication network (e.g. the Internet) and
is accessible by users from their personal communication devices
(computer, mobile phones) via the Internet. System 221 is configured for
using individuals' related data contained in the main verified database
227 constructed as described above (i.e., database of IDSs of all
identified individuals and a relationship web) according to one or more
selected parameters. System 221 may be a constructional part
(software/hardware utility) of the server utility (210 in FIG. 2) that
creates the main verified database, or may be a separate server system
connectable to the main database e.g. via the server utility 210. Also,
system 221 is associated with its website which is accessible to users
and which may or may not be a part of website 223 of FIG. 2.

[0132]Database managing system 221 comprises inter alia a data processing
utility 226 for processing contents of the main, verified database 227 of
identified individuals. The system is configured for creating one or more
sub-group databases 229 in accordance with one or more predetermined
parameters and/or according to a request 231 inputted to the system and
fed to the processor utility 226. Such a request or predetermined
parameter may, for example, be: a medical parameter, e.g. all individuals
having a specific tissue type; a location parameter, e.g. all individuals
living in a specific geographical location; etc. Another processor
utility 228 is configured for communication with users 234. For example,
in case some of the users' related data records in the main verified
database 227 lack certain data relevant to the predetermined parameter or
request, processor utility 226 operates the processor utility 228 to
initiate communication with the respective users to request such data.
After user input, such data may be added to main database 227 and if
relevant may be used to create or update the respective sub-group
database 229. Processor utility 226 may also operate the processor
utility 228 to distribute certain data from a sub-group database 229 to
users or a selected group thereof or distribute certain data to users
included in database 229.

[0133]For example, a sub-group database 229 may be formed to include data
on all individuals suffering from a certain diseases. Data relating to
therapy of such a disease may be distributed to such users. Medical data
relating to users from the sub-group 229 may be transferred to a medical
center, where these data are further analyzed for research or service
providing purposes.

[0134]Another example is a subgroup database formed for individuals
residing in a certain location and such individuals may then receive
offers or promotional material relating to a product or service provided
in their vicinity. Additionally, a user may request to locate service
providers in a specific location and the system may then create a
respective sub-group database and forward information on the content to
the requester, at times after obtaining necessary permission from such
service providers.

[0135]Reference is now made to FIG. 3B, which is a simplified block
diagram of an interactive system 350 for providing personalized medicine,
which may be used in addition to or instead of the system of FIG. 3A, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0136]This figure shows the link of the interactive system 350 via a
hospital/medical center 370 to provide diagnosis and/or treatment to an
individual. System 350 is configured a server system which may be a
constructional part of the server system 210 of FIG. 2 for constructing
the main verified database 227 or may be a separate server system
connectable to the server 210. The system 350 is associated with a memory
utility for storing the following databases: a medical records database
352, a personalized profile database 354, a disorder treatment database
356; and a disorder progress monitoring database 358. The system 350
includes a processor utility 359 having a module 360 for running a
treatment regime algorithm and module(s) 362 for running one or more
tracking disease algorithms 362. It should be understood that the memory
utility may be entirely a part of the system 350 or may be distributed
between several computerized systems communicatable with one another via
a communication network. In other words, some of the databases or parts
thereof may be external to system 350, but may be in communication
therewith. For example, medical records database 352 may be retained
outside system 350, e.g. may exist at the hospital/medical center 370 and
provided/copied to system 350.

[0137]The system 350 receives information from one or more
hospitals/medical centers 370. The hospitals/medical centers may provide
updated personalized medical records of one or many patients. The
personalized medical records in database 352 may be collated with
personalized profiles from the personalized profile database 354 in a
number of different ways. The system 350 includes a processor utility 372
configured and operable to continuously update the personalized profiles
database 354 based on data in the main verified database 227.

[0138]It should be understood that medical centers wishing to use a
personalized medicine methodology may wish to have additions made to
their medical records, based on the authenticated data in the main
verified database 227. The medical center may pay a fee for each piece of
data received from the system 350 or may alternatively, pay a
subscription fee to the service providers of database 227. Additionally
or alternatively, the personalized profile database 354 may be updated
with authenticated information from database 352. However, this data of
database 352 is be verified and authenticated by methods such as those
illustrated by FIGS. 4-6B hereinbelow, before being transferred to
database 354.

[0139]According to some embodiments, there may be several stand-alone
systems 350 that do not interact directly with each other, but are
configured and constructed to allow the import/export of verified data
from one system to another such system, using the methods for data
verification/authentication described herein.

[0140]One or more treatment apparatus modules 380 may be activated to
treat a patient/user 234 via the system 350 from at least one
hospital/medical center 370 and/or by treatment regime algorithm 360 of
the system 350.

[0141]Additionally or alternatively, one or more diagnostic apparatus
modules 390 may be activated to diagnose a patient/user 234 via the
system 350 from at least one hospital/medical center 370 and/or from
tracking disease algorithm 362 of system 350.

[0142]The methods of using system 350 of the present invention are
exemplified by FIGS. 11-13 hereinbelow, but are not limited thereto.

[0143]It should further be understood that system 350 can be used for
updating personalized medical records in database 352 in real-time from
hospital/medical center 370. The personalized medical records in database
352 can also be in real-time updated with data from the verified database
227 and/or or from database 354, which in turn can be real-time updated
with data from the verified database 227 as well as from database 352.
Data from medical records database 352 as well as from personalized
profiles database 354 can also be used for updating the disorder
treatment regime database 356 and/or the disorder progress database 358,
in real-time. Data in any one or more of databases 352, 354, 356 and 358
can be used to perform at least one of treatment algorithm 360 and
tracking disease algorithm 362. User/patient 234 can be treated with
treatment apparatus 380 according to at least one of his medical record
in database 352, his personalized profile in database 354, his updated
disorder treatment regime in database 356, his disorder progress in
database 358. Also, a patient can be treated based on measurements taken
by diagnostic apparatus 390 and transferred to hospital/medical center
370 and/or based on tracking disease algorithm 362. The results of
treatment regime algorithm 360 can be used for updating at least one of
databases 352, 354, 356 and 358 per treatment step hereinabove.
User/patient 234 can be diagnosed with diagnostic apparatus 390 and data
from apparatus 390 can be transferred to at least one of hospital/medical
center 370 and can be used for operating the tracking disease algorithm
362. Also, the results of tracking disease algorithm 362 can be used for
updating at least one of databases 352, 354, 356 and 358 responsive to
diagnosis step hereinabove.

[0144]Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified scheme of
IDBs received from two users--User-A 302 and User-B 304--and processed,
for example as described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0145]User-A and User-B input respective IDBs, IDBs-A 312 and IDBs-B 314.
IDBs-A 312 includes personal identifiers of User-A 312-1 and relationship
data pieces 312-2, 312-3 and 312-4 on related individuals X, C and D,
respectively. The IDBs-B 314 similarly includes corresponding data pieces
314-1 through 314-4 on related individuals B, Y, E and F. As will be
appreciated the personal identifiers 312-1 and 314-1 consist of a
plurality of data bits that may characterize each of users A and B.
Similarly, relationship data 312-2, 314-2 through 312-4, 314-4 include
personal identifiers of the individuals as well as relationship data
identifying the nature of the relationship between each of the users A
and B to the related individuals.

[0146]As will also be appreciated, the example presented herein in which
there are 3 related individuals in each of the IDBs is but an example and
any number of related individuals may be included in the IDBs.

[0147]Upon processing of the IDBs (step 320) the computer system
identifies that related individual X and Y are individuals B and A,
respectively. In the next step 330 IDSs are generated. In total, the two
IDBs 312 and 314 relate to 6 identified individuals and accordingly from
these two IDBs a total of 6 IDSs 340-A, 340-B, 340-F can be generated for
individuals A, B, . . . , F, respectively. A reliability score for each
of these IDSs may also be generated. As IDS-A 340-A and IDS-B 340-B are
generated each from data included in two IDBs, the relative reliability
score that may be generated may be high as compared to that of the other
illustrated IDBs for which the relative reliability score will be lower.

[0148]In fact, in this very simplified illustrative embodiment, the IDS
for individual A 340-A and the IDS for individual B 340-B will include a
main data record for individuals A and B which will include personal
identifiers verified from two different sources. In addition, the IDS of
individual A 340-A. for example, will also include relationship data on
individuals B, C and D. However, as individuals C and F are related to
individual B they may also be included as relationship data in the IDS of
individual B 340-B.

[0149]In the case of a plurality of users entering IDBs, an IDS may be
generated and may receive verification from a large number of sources.

[0150]Reference is now being made to FIG. 5 which exemplifies the
comparing of data bits on an individual obtained from two different IDBs.
Illustrated are data bits on individual A which are included in the IDBs
inputted by User-A and in the IDBs inputted by User-B.

[0151]Often data bits on an individual entered from one source may include
inaccuracies or may be incomplete. As is illustrated in the example of
FIG. 5, 9 different parameters on individual A are included. User-A has
inputted data relating to his/her age, gender, place of birth, eye color,
date of birth, father's name, mother's name, brother's name and residence
(A1 to A9, respectively). User-B has inputted corresponding
data relating to User-A, save for bits A8 and A9. In some
embodiments, the two sets of data bits are compared to provide a binary
output of "match/mismatch" ("YES"/"NO"), relating to the two pieces of
data that were compared. A more complex algorithm may be applied upon
comparing of pieces of data on the same individual from multiple IDBs. In
some other embodiments, the output may provide a score based on the
closeness of match. For example, relating to the data in FIG. 5, if a
binary scoring system is used then the father's name of User-A will be
accepted (as both inputs match and are "Peter") and if a score is
provided, such as ten out of ten. In contrast, if the binary comparison
system is used relating to the mother's name, the input will be rejected
as "Mary" and "Marie" do not match, whereas, on a scoring basis, the
score may be eight out of ten. Similarly, the age of user.sub.(I) may be
rejected on a binary basis, but ascribed a score of 9 on a scoring basis.
Regarding the place of birth, if a binary comparison system is used, then
"Baltimore" and New York" do not match, whereas on a score system, a
score of 4 out of 10, for example, may be provided. For brother name and
residence, no data is provided in the IDBs of User-B and while in a
binary comparison system this data may be rejected, in a scoring system
this may receive a medium score such as 5. In the subsequent constructed
IDS, in the case of the binary system, the data bits to be entered may
include only those with a full match. Against this in a scoring system
the data to be included may be such with a score above a certain number,
e.g. a score greater than 5, in which case data bits A1, A2,
A4, A5, A6 and A7 will be included. Furthermore, the
IDS may be ascribed a total reliability score based on the individuals
score a typically also factoring in other factors such as the number of
IDBs used to construct the IDS, the number of related individuals, the
reliability score of related individuals, etc.

[0152]In some embodiments, different weightings may be given to different
data bits. For example, the weighting of data provided by an individual
regarding himself may be twice that of a sibling relating to that
individual and three times more than that received from a cousin
regarding that individual. The degree of closeness of the user providing
the information relating to the individual may be used to calculate the
weighting. The weighting may therefore, for example, be calculated as a
function of the number of verifications multiplied by the weighting
assigned to each of the verifications (each of which is itself a function
of the closeness of the two users in that verification).

[0153]Thus, in some embodiments the data provided by User-A regarding the
mother's name, place of birth and age may be accepted, whereas these data
provided by User-B may be rejected due to the lower weighting thereof.

[0154]It should be understood that many different other weighting models
and comparison algorithms, including such that are known in the art, can
be applied in accordance with the invention.

[0155]Reference is now made to FIG. 6A, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 500 illustrating an example of implementation of the processing
step 320 of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0156]In a binary comparison step 510, the individual data bits in the
IDBs of two users, UserN and UserM (data bits 1 to I of the
IDBN of UserN, (DB1-1)N, and data bits 1 to J of the
IDBM of UserM, (DBI-J)M), for example User-A and
User-B of FIGS. 4 and 5, are compared. For example, the age of UserN
is compared to that provided by UserM in the comparing step 510. As
is seen in FIG. 6A, User-A has inputted her age to be 37, whereas User-B
has indicated that the age of User-A is 38. In a checking step 520, the
system checks to see if ((DBI)N and (DBJ)M) are
identical. If the two data bits are identical, as in the case, for
example, with respect to data bit A2 in FIG. 5, these data bits are
stored 530 in the memory and then in a subsequent step 540 the system
determines whether there are more data bits in the two IDBs to compare
and if positive next data bits are selected 550 in the two IDBs and
processes begins again. In case the comparison step 520 yields a negative
result, the system proceeds directly to determining step 540.

[0157]In case the determining step 540 concludes that there are no more
data bits in the two IDBs to compare, the system determines whether there
are more IDBMS to compare. If positive the next IDB is chosen 570,
the next IDB being chosen from either a random list of IDBs or from a
list of IDBs predetermined to have a high probability of matching data
bits with the data bits included in IDBN.

[0158]Should comparison step 560 yield a negative result, the IDBN is
rejected 575 and the system proceeds to next determining step 580 to
determine whether there are more IDBNS that should be compared to
other IDBs. If in the affirmative, a new IDBN is obtained and the
system returns to step 510. If there is no additional IDBN the
operation stops 599.

[0159]In some other embodiments, the IDBs are stored and assigned
reliability values. The reliability values may be accumulated for each
user so as to ascribe to each user a general reliability value (GRV). The
GRV may be used to choose selected users having relatively high GRVs for
providing information to the system and for eliminating the less reliable
users with lower GRVs.

[0160]Reference is now made to FIG. 6B, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 600 illustrating an embodiment of step 120 for obtaining
individual-identifier data set (IDS) of FIG. 1.

[0161]As is described hereinabove, and particularly with reference to
FIGS. 1-6A, system 200 is operative to obtain IDBs for a plurality of
users. The IDBs can be obtained over the internet and/or via any of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 2 or any other known in the art. IDBs from
different users are compared in flowchart 600. For example, the IDBs
accepted in the illustrated example of FIG. 4, may be further compared
taking into account the relative distances, namely the number of
relationship lines, between the two or more users. In some embodiments,
this is a further process in addition to the comparisons of IDBs made
with reference to FIGS. 4-6A.

[0162]In other embodiments, this process at least partly replaces some of
the steps described in FIGS. 4-6A. For example, in flowchart 600, the
IDBs of multiple users designated IDB1 . . . IDBN obtained
respectively from users User1 . . . UserN are compared in
comparison step 610. These IDBs may be pieces of information provided by
a user regarding himself and one or more other relevant individual. When
a comparison of multiple sources of data is employed in step 610, one or
more algorithms may be applied to eliminate any extraneous data
processing (such as by rational design methods, known in the art).

[0163]For example, in step 610, the IDBs obtained from a plurality of
users relating to various identifiers can be compared to obtain a set of
relative fits of the various IDBs.

[0164]The output of step 610 may include at least one of the following;
[0165]a) a fit of IDBs obtained relative to data in a memory or database;
[0166]b) a fit of IDBs obtained from one or more users relative to one or
more other users; [0167]c) a plurality of IDBs pertaining to different
users; [0168]d) at least one indication of a relationship and/or distance
between two or more users.

[0169]In a measuring step 620, the distance between two or more users is
calculated or measured. Distance may be defined according to one or more
set of rules. One none-limiting example includes at least one of the
following:

[0170]a) A relationship line between two blood relatives of a first degree
is standardized to one standard length away (such as a user to his child,
parent, sibling or spouse); a line of two standard relationship lines may
be standardized by a blood relationship of two degrees (such as a user to
his grandparent or grandchild, first cousin, niece or nephew,
sibling-in-law, parent-in-law) etc.; and

[0171]b) A line between friends may be defined in relative terms of, for
example: a lover, first degree; best friend, first degree (one standard
distance away); social group friend, second degree (two standard
distances away), work acquaintance, third degree (three standard
distances away).

[0172]The distance between at least some of the set of users may be
calculated using the one or more set of rules and outputted. Thereafter,
the calculated distances are stored in the system's computerized memory.

[0173]In an assigning reliability step 630, the reliability of data
obtained from a user concerning another user is calculated as a function
of the distance between them calculated from step 620. For example, blood
relatives of three relative lengths away, may be assigned a higher
reliability value (to be designated herein as "RD value" or
"RD") than friends of the same relative length away.

[0174]In a calculating match step 640, the match is calculated as a
function of the RD value. In some cases, this may be a simple
multiplication of match using the corresponding fit from step 610.

[0175]In an accepting step 650, all IDBs having a match of more than a
pre-determined value are accepted and others rejected. In some
embodiments, only the accepted IDBs are saved to memory.

[0176]In an optional filtering step 660, one or more algorithms are
applied to the accepted IDBs. The filtering step is designed to reduce
the number of IDBs to a minimum and to reject "non-essential IDBs".

[0177]As already noted above, each IDB includes personal identifiers of
the data-entering individual as well as data on related individuals. At
the end of the process 670, an IDS, is defined for each of the identified
individuals, which include the data-entering individual a well as the
related individuals.

[0178]In a user checking step 680, it is checked to see if an IDS has been
calculated for all of the identified individuals in all of the IDBs. If
negative, a search is performed to find the next IDB in an update step
690 and then steps 610-680 are repeated until each of the identified
individuals has a corresponding IDS. The IDSs are stored in the system
memory 288.

[0179]The methods of the present invention for forming relationship webs
are exemplified by, but not limited to the following example.

[0180]Reference is now made to FIG. 7A, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 700 for developing a relationship web, illustrating an
embodiment of step 130 of FIG. 1.

[0181]In an IDS obtaining step 710, the IDSs of S users are obtained. This
step may be similar to or different from flowchart 600 of FIG. 6B. In
some cases, the IDS of some users are stored in one database and others
in another database. The databases may be merged, or combined into a
third database in system 200.

[0182]The construction of an IDS should be understood in the virtual sense
in the generation of an ensemble of data which serves as personal
identifiers of an identified individual and his related individuals. In
accordance with one embodiment, all components which constitute one IDS
are stored as one data record. In accordance with other embodiments, a
plurality of elements constituting a single IDS may be distributed
between a plurality of data records.

[0183]In step 720 a relationship web, as described hereinabove, is
created, for example on the basis of the obtained IDSs. This can include
creating family trees, creating society hierarchical trees, creating work
hierarchical trees, and the like. According to some embodiments of the
invention, isolated relationship webs are created for each individual,
showing all individuals having a certain predetermined number of
relationship links to that individual. In accordance with other
embodiments of the invention, the relationship web includes a plurality
of individuals, e.g. all individuals residing in a geographical location,
all individuals of a defined religion or sect, all individuals belonging
to a certain culture, and occasionally all individuals in the database.

[0184]One exemplary use of the invention is in the automatic construction
of a family tree. Unlike many systems that permit a user to produce his
family tree, in accordance with the invention the generation process is
in fact automatic. Although the user enters some of the relevant data,
other data relevant for the construction of a family tree for a specific
individual may be entered by others, as is explained with reference to
FIG. 5. Another unique feature of the invention that is permits merging
of different family tree databases to one another.

[0185]FIG. 7B exemplifies family structures 760, 770, 790, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0186]In accordance with some embodiments, each family or group of
individuals can be provided with a family structure A, B or C. Family A
represented by structure 760, has a mother 762, father 764 and child 766.
The father and mother belong to generation N and the child to generation
N+1. There may, of course, be a plurality of children (not shown). The
mother and father are linked to the child with one line each 763 and 765.
If married, the mother and father are linked with line 768.

[0187]In family B, represented by a one-parent family comprising structure
770, the father is (currently) unknown. The mother 772 is linked to child
776 by a solid line 773. The father 774 is linked to the child by a
dotted line 775.

[0188]In some other cases, such as in family C, represented by structure
790, there are no known parents. Child 796 is linked to mother 792 and to
father 794 by two dotted lines 793, 795 respectively.

[0189]The family structures of A, B and C may be denoted in "shorthand" as
782, 784 and 786 respectively, as is shown in FIG. 7B, where the child
related node is denoted 783, and the parents' related nodes--781 and 782
respectively.

[0190]These families may be real genetic families or families of people
who have a certain social or work relationship.

[0191]Turning back to FIG. 7A, the building of the relationship web
utilizes creation of the family tree. The family units are sorted and
categorized. Thereafter, they are compared and super-imposed so as to
form one or more relationship webs with a proper location of each
individual therein (step 730). In some cases, steps 720 and 730 may be
combined or their order reversed. For example, the construction of the
relationship web may comprise a combination of placing individuals and
families within a web.

[0192]In some embodiments, the relationship web is formed by combining a
plurality of family structures, particularly family trees, included in
two or more IDSs. As already noted above, each IDS includes, among
others, personal identifiers and relationship data on related
individuals. Thus, as also already pointed out above, each IDS
constitutes a sort of a family database and may be used for construction
of a family tree. By combining relationship data included in different
IDSs one family tree may be enlarged and merged to others.

[0193]Data included in an IDS is already verified through some mode of
verification, particularly such IDSs constructed from IDBs entered by a
plurality of individuals. Thus, data included in an IDS will have some
degree of verification whereby each related individual included in an IDS
is already a verified individual and accordingly family trees merged in
that manner are verified family trees.

[0194]As already pointed out above, while an IDS contains data on related
individuals, at the same time there is also an IDS for each of the
related individuals. Thus, upon merging of family trees through
association of family databases from two or a plurality of IDSs, all IDSs
associated with their related individuals in the IDSs which constitute
the basis for merger may be updated, automatically, for example, by
addition of related individuals to such IDSs as a result of new
individuals who now become related through such merger of family trees.

[0195]Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 800 exemplifying the formation of a relationship web (step 720
in FIG. 7A).

[0196]In an obtaining step 810, data regarding an individual is obtained.
The so obtained data may be sorted according to a number of different
parameters such as, but not limited to, type and relative position (step
820). For example, data may be sorted into the type of relationship web,
family, friend, work etc. The data may be sorted according to relative
position, for example, age, generation, geographical location and
sub-location.

[0197]In a data reduction step 830, the quantity of data regarding the
individual is sifted using at least one algorithm, such as by rationally
designing the required data set, as is known in the art. In some
embodiments, this step may precede step 820 (the data is sifted before
sorting), in some other embodiments (as shown in the figure), sifting is
applied to the sorted data.

[0198]The reduced data is then processed to form a relationship web (step
840). For example, a relationship web may be formed by combining a
plurality of family structures (such as 782, 784, 786 of FIG. 7B). The
relationship web may typically have a multidimensional topology.

[0199]The data obtained in the previous step may then be used to associate
individuals, including, but not limited, individuals belonging to a
single family, in a relationship structure one versus the other. In some
cases, an individual may appear in several different family structures,
such as family trees. Such an individual can then be used as a reference
point to connect between the different structures and/or family trees.

[0200]The methods of the present invention for verifying relative
positions on relationship webs include, but are not limited to standard
vector matching methods. Using algorithms known in the art, the reference
points between different structures/family trees can be ascertained with
a very high degree of probability.

[0201]Reference is made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 900 exemplifying formation of a virtual community according to
embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0202]In a first filtering step 910, the IDSs obtained in step 130 of FIG.
1 are filtered, for example, with regard to one or more indicators such
as residence, scope of interest, hobby, demographic parameters, and
others. For example, cyclists in the Regent's Park area in London, UK,
can be selected in this manner from all other individuals.

[0203]In a subsequent asking step 920, all such selected individuals may
be asked, by the system, if they wish to join a "Regent's Park Cycling
Community". Of those asked, some may provide a positive reply by, for
example, following a link which links them to a web page within the
system website, that is formed for the "Regent's Park Cycling Community".
A membership list of such formed virtual community may then be drawn and
may be made available to all the identified individuals who chose to join
this virtual community.

[0204]In an assigning rules and fees step 940, the joining individuals are
asked to pay a standard annual fee and to agree to abide by a set of
rules. For example, the rules may include: a) paying the fee by April of
each year, b) not riding on the pavement (sidewalk) in London, c) not
riding within 50 meters of the Regent's Park mosque unless fully covered,
d) always using a front and rear lamp from sunset to 8 am; and e)
applying a membership sticker to the front handlebars of the bicycle so
as to be easily identified.

[0205]In a checking step, 950, the joining individuals if the abide by the
rules. If, for example, the user does not pay the annual fee by April, he
may be rejected from the community. Likewise, he may be rejected if he is
found to break any of the rules b) to e). If he conforms to the rules, he
is retained within the community until the April of the subsequent year.

[0206]The method as exemplified herein enables the formation of a database
in which the reliability of the IDSs are high and the probability of the
verified data being incorrect is low. Furthermore, the superimposition of
the family structures as shown in FIG. 7B provide a verification of
identity tool superior in reliability to any other tool known in the art
heretofore. The identity of an individual is verified by the methods of
the present invention with a high degree of probability. Furthermore, the
relationship between different family members is also verified
unequivocally. Thus, the databases formed using the methods of the
present invention may be used for many applications, as are exemplified
herein.

[0207]The IDS containing databases of the invention contain verified data
on individual and their relationships. Such databases may be used, in
accordance with the invention, for a variety of uses where verification
of user's identity is important. Such may include, for example, a variety
of applications in internet e-commerce, for virtual networking with real
and identified individuals, etc. Some applications that make use of the
verified data included in the database of the invention will be
exemplified further below. The fact that the IDSs containing database of
the invention includes real and verified information on the individual's
and individual demographics, may be used for a variety of uses for which
computer network have not been used hitherto. Such may include, for
example, demographic research, opinion polls, referenda and elections.

[0208]For example, demographic surveys and opinion polls can be carried
out, on the basis of gender, age, ethnic type, religion, nationality,
social status, and generally any breakdown of parameters of the
identified individuals. All such surveys and opinion polls may have a
relatively high accuracy as the data in the IDS, and hence the breakdown
of the individual into groups of individuals with identified parameters,
is with a relatively high reliability.

[0209]Use of the database for marketing purposes, such as for targeted
marketing to individual with selected personal identifiers, is another
possible application of the invention. Such targeted marketing may be to
individuals selected through certain personal identifiers, may be to a
group of individuals belonging to a virtual community formed in
accordance with the invention, typically such which relates to the
interest focus of such a virtual community. For example, a computerized
chess game may be marketed to a virtual community of chess players.

[0210]It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are,
for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also
be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various
features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the
context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any
suitable subcombination.

[0211]Since the relative position of family members are reliably mapped
according to the present invention, the nearest scheme may be located
which may be important, for example, for purposes of adoption of
individuals to related individuals, in order to allow to claim an
inherited estate of an heirless deceased, etc.

[0212]The following are some examples of uses of the database configured
as described above.

EXAMPLE 1

Medical Applications of Family Tree Databases

i) Blood Type

[0213]The blood type of a very large numbers of users/individuals may be
known and verified using the individuals related database (main database
including the IDSs all identified individuals and a relationship web.
Thus, in this specific example, the blood type is a predetermined
parameter for creating the verified database (227 in FIG. 3) and creating
therefrom a sub-group database (229 in FIG. 3). This information can be
used for obtaining blood from blood donors, for example.

[0214]Reference is now made to FIG. 10A, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 1000 illustrating a medical use of the database created
according to the embodiments of the invention.

[0215]In a first step 1002, a verified database (227 of FIG. 3) created as
described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is processed to select
those users' data records which contain blood type related data in order
to further filter (by processor 228) the verified database to find
individuals having a specific blood type, e.g. an AB-blood type, which is
relatively rare (around 1% of the general population) and to thereby
create a respective sub-group database. The verified database 227 is
analyzed (by processor 226) and it may be found, for example, that of all
the verified individuals in database 227, only 0.001% of the population
are known to have the AB-blood type. This may mean that the data
pertaining to blood type is absent in the main database for many of the
identified individuals. In such a case processor 226 operates processor
228 to generate a request from all the residual 99.999% of the verified
individuals information regarding their blood type or the blood type of
their relatives and acquaintances known to them (step 1006). In this way
a subgroup database 229 may be further updated.

[0216]Processor 228 (FIG. 3) may be configured to map all of the
population in the sub-group database having the AB- blood group according
to their geographic location (step 1008).

[0217]In a provision step 1010, for example, the individuals of the
sub-group identified as living in Greenwich Village, New York having the
AB-blood type may be invited to obtain a medical treatment, a diet
related to blood type, or asked to donate blood, due to a local shortage
thereof.

[0218]If the blood type of a user is known, then the user can be advised
of dangers pertaining to his/her specific blood type. For example, a
woman of O- (Rhesus negative) can be warned of the dangers of becoming
pregnant from an O+ (Rhesus positive) man and can additionally be
provided with advice regarding immunizations before/during pregnancy.

[0219]A family having a certain blood disease, such as sickle cell anemia,
thalessemia or hemophilia can be mapped to find disease carriers, to
prevent marriages with increased predominance of the disease and to find
diseased individual and to provide them with the correct therapy, such as
gene therapy, if available.

[0220]Diets for a certain blood type known in the art may be marketed to
individuals or families of that blood type, as those individuals or
families have been mapped, according to some embodiments of the present
invention, as having that blood type.

ii) Diseases in Individuals

[0221]An individual suffering from a certain disease or having a certain
familial trait, may be prone to certain diseases, may be prone to
age-related disorders, etc. Since the individual provides some
information to the main users' related database, the information may be
used to assist him in the control, prevention and treatment of his/her
potential disease or disorder.

[0222]The database may be used to map all individuals in a certain
geographical area suffering from the same disease or disorder. These
individuals of this target group may be offered the same or different
treatments and their progress over time may be monitored.

[0223]Additionally, the target group may be offered trips to a certain
hospital specializing in treating migraines.

[0224]Reference is now made to FIG. 10B, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart illustrating another example of a method for using the users'
related database for medical applications for a selected group of
individuals.

[0225]In a processing step 1012, the main database is analyzed to select
those individuals who have entered the relevant data into their data
records or appropriately organize the data from the main database to find
individuals who exhibit a certain trait, e.g. tyrosinase positive
albinism and create a sub-group database of phenotype/genotype positive
individuals (step 1014). It may be found for example, that of all the
identified (verified) individuals in the main database, only 0.0007% of
the population of the identified individuals are known to exhibit
tyrosinase positive albinism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albino). This
may mean that the data pertaining to albinism is absent from the main
database for many of the identified individuals. Thus, optionally, the
respective request to the verified individuals can be generated and the
sub-group database updated accordingly.

[0226]In a further processing step 1016, the sub-group database is
processed to identify for each individual whether he/she has a disease or
trait X. If YES, the respective individuals may be offered a drug and/or
therapy (step 1018) and if NO a screening program may be periodically
offered to the respective individuals (step 1024). The individuals may be
followed-up (step 1026) and statistical data may be collected (step
1030).

iii) Diseases in Families and Community

[0227]Certain families have a greater incidence of certain diseases than
that of the general population. These diseases can be divided into
genetic diseases, such as a congenital heart disease, diabetes and
non-genetic diseases, such as influenza, multiple sclerosis and various
types of cancer.

[0228]FIG. 10c is a simplified schematic flowchart 1040 illustrating a
commercial method for using the database of FIG. 1 for medical
applications for a selected group of individuals.

[0229]In a processing step 1042, main database is processed to find
individuals having a certain genetic disease and a respective sub-group
database is created (step 1044). Based on relationship data and/r
generated family trees, family members of individuals having said disease
are alerted for the possibility that they have such a disease and may be
directed to perform necessary tests, go on a certain diet to reduce risk
of having an active disease, such as in the case of Type II diabetes
(step 1046). Optionally, such individuals may be offered certain
drug-related information or other relevant health-related information
relevant to them.

iv) Personalized Medicine

[0230]Although 99.9% of DNA shared among all people is identical, it is
believed that crucial clues to health conditions are found in the slight
genetic differences between individuals. It thus appears that family
history may present itself as being one of the greatest risk factors for
many diseases. Moreover, families share social and cultural traditions,
behaviors and habits. These factors yield an immense impact on the
overall health status of family members.

[0231]Personalized medicine may therefore be based upon both family
medical histories and on a user profile.

[0232]Personalized medicine may be based on data/information from any one
or more known family history initiatives including those of the Office of
the Surgeon General; National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI);
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); The Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); and The Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA). The data from these initiatives as well
as using knowledge/data from policy makers (DC), researchers, insurers,
providers, physicians, may be applied in conjunction with the database of
the present invention to build a personalized medicine database. The data
from the personalized medicine database may be used to analyze huge
quantities of family-oriented health data. This personalized medicine
database may be used for epidemiological studies over a period of time.

[0233]The personalized medicine database provides a unique ability to
identify genealogical traits and personalized risk factors based on
authenticated user family trees and associated family histories.

[0234]Based on the associated family history and other risk factors, a
disease risk assessment can be performed, leading to a set of
recommendations for one or more of: lifestyle changes to aid disease
prevention; prescribing screening tests for early disease detection;
recommending genetic tests for determining if any other family members
are at risk; and, most importantly, family members may benefit, both
directly and indirectly, from the database capability to accumulate huge
amounts of authenticated family oriented health data. By "directly" is
meant that the individual may be provided with real-time information
regarding a disease from which he suffers, such as new drugs or clinical
trials. By "indirectly" is meant that an individual may be provided with
information which he can use to assist one or more of his known
relatives.

[0236]A young individual may wish to follow his growth rate, and thus the
database may provide him with growth charts (height, weight etc.).

[0237]A middle-aged individual may be interested to monitor his
cholesterol, LDL and HDL level and would thus be provided with charts to
be filled in over time by his health practitioner.

[0238]The database normally comprises two classes of individuals:
participating individuals (e.g. the family tree builder) and reported
individuals (e.g. a late ancestor or a non-participating or passive
family member). Each individual can belong either to one of the classes
or to both of them. Thus a health form to be filled in by an individual
may be a first or a third party report. In the second case a ranking
algorithm which takes into account the number of identical reports and
the genealogical distance of the reporter is used for evaluating the
authenticity of the reported health condition.

[0239]Data, whether from a first, second or third party, may be entered
manually into system 200, though may alternatively be retrieved from
laboratory reports.

[0240]Additionally, an individual may be asked to provide data pertaining
to his immunization history including active immunizations and as a
result of disease.

[0241]The personalized medicine database may be used to provide a disease
progression report and a progression graph.

[0242]Additionally, the personalized medicine database may be used to
generate tables or charts of some of the data. The data may additionally
be exported for use in risk assessment and actuarial analyses.

[0243]The technique of the present invention for creating the verified
database allows users to map their individual world of family
connections, creating a unique personal web which provides an authentic
basis for understanding and carrying out interactions with family,
friends and colleagues. The system may represent data, including a user's
map of his personal world of family connections, in a layered form: each
custom application corresponds to a certain facet of the user's real
life, always utilizing the basic layer (e.g. geographic info, cultural
and religious denomination, medical history, etc.) of genealogical
connections. Practically, tailored applications and global family bonds
empowered by sharing life experiences and information can be utilized. A
user is allowed to merge a personal family tree with any and all other
verified trees that are related to anyone on his original tree. As
members are added and family trees are established and verified, the
system begins identifying genealogical matches. Family trees begin to
connect, global families grow and new relationships are discovered. The
synergy of trees into forests creates a personal web of family
connections and, in turn, interconnected data, which has not been
previously available.

[0244]FIG. 10D exemplifies such a layered connectivity model. As shown,
users A, B, C and D are associated with stacked pillars of independent
layers of data. Here, L1 is the basic connection layer, L2 is
the life style habit layer, L3 is the personal medical history data
layer, and L4 is the third party dedicated service layer. As shown
in the figure, the only data shared by default, in this example, is the
basic connection layer. The data pieces of different layers are
logically, and optionally physically, stored separately. The system
operates to constantly mirror the relevant layers to the medical
information providers. It should be noted that the system (through its
gateway) may also relay information from one information provider to
another, based on custom cooperation agreements.

[0245]Such layered approach to user data enables a secure and versatile
model of data distribution, allowing each information provider full
control over the collection of the dedicated user information. The only
information that might be stored in the central system is the users' name
and set of connections. In this manner, data collected by the individual
medical information providers is instantly put into genealogical context,
setting the infrastructure to powerful personal applications. The layered
infrastructure will also allow medical services to correlate their
medical records with the individual instances and links, and thus
clinically harvest the user database. This feature represents a one-way
query, without streaming any information out of the care-takers' private
system.

[0246]The present invention provides for establishing and verifying family
trees and finding matches between individuals in the merged family trees.
The system can recognize these matches beyond the user's knowledge
boundaries, discovering unknown connections. As people join and build
their family trees, the system identifies genealogical matches. The trees
begin to connect, the global family grows and relationships can be found
between any two people in the system. Inputting the genetic maps of
individuals, allows extremely complex interdisciplinary cross-references
(e.g., creating a cardiovascular profile, based on scattered
endocrinological evidence). At the same time, clinical research may be
conducted in order to identify new `incriminating` genetic patterns, thus
developing new preemptive diagnostic and even therapeutic protocols. In
other words, the invention provides for family tree reconstruction
enabling, among other, to be used in a bioinformatics instrument.

[0247]FIG. 10E exemplifies the data distribution between a care taker or
user 234, the system of the present invention 400 (capable of processing
data in the verified database according to one or more selected
parameters or conditions) and a medical center 370. According to the
layered connectivity model, all medical history information remains on
the servers of the medical center and is controlled there. Lifestyle
habits are mutually recorded, whereas all names and connections are
mirrored to the system 400, under strict, mutually agreed upon, privacy
protocols. Users are recorded in a layered fashion, as described above,
from the very instance of individuals' sign up. As shown, a user or a
care taker on his behalf, generally at 234, inputs, through his personal
communication device connectable to the network, the user's pedigree
D1, life style habits D2 and personal medical history D3.
The user's or care taker's communication device being either installed
with a certain application program interface or operating according to
instructions received from the system 400 via the network, operates to
transmit these data pieces to the medical center 370, while the
life-style habits and genealogical data D1 and D2 are mirrored
to the servers 400. The latter generates a unified report of converged
pedigree and life-style profiles D4 and transmits this data to the
medical center 370. At the medical center, the received data are
processed to create personalized info and services data D5 and
transmit it to the user or care taker 234. The data piece D5 may be
maintained in the user-related data record in the database of the medical
center.

[0248]As indicated above, the technique of the present invention provides
for a powerful proprietary convergence and management bioinformatics
instrument. Using genealogical connectivity provided by the system of the
present invention, user medical data can be converged with those of
his/her entire authenticated family (pending each individual's
authorization. As illustrated in FIG. 10F, connections reported from
multiple sources converge and create an elaborate pedigree. The system
performs the so-called "data mining", namely recognizes predispositions
for diabetes and hyperlipidemia (both Endocrinological indications) and
highlights the increased possibility for Ischemic heart disease
(cardiovascular indication) among offspring.

[0249]v) Other Medical Applications

[0250]The database of the present invention may additionally be used to
map drug resistance, drug allergies, drug-drug interactions, and
drug-drug contra-indications. The database could be further used to
prevent massive damage to large populations, such as in the "thalidomide"
case. Such contra-indications could be mapped, according to certain
embodiments of the present invention, in real-time, and the drug
companies providing such a drug could be warned to stop providing it to
users.

[0251]The database of the present invention could be used in gathering
medical evidence and for suing drug companies on the basis of the
gathered evidence.

[0252]Users may provide very detailed medical records to the database in
order to receive good medical insurance and medical treatment package
deals.

[0253]FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart 1100 for providing a personalized
medicine optimal dosage/dosage regimen of a drug, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention and operative using the systems
described hereinabove.

[0254]In a first defining step 1102, a disease or disorder, which
user/patient suffers from or is likely to suffer from in the future, is
defined. This may for example be lung cancer.

[0255]Then, the personalized profile of the user/patient is defined (step
1104). The personalized profile may include, but is not limited to, any
one or more of the following: personalized genetic profile (genotype,
haplotype, place in the family tree created based on the verified
database, family medical history); personalized medical records; age,
location, socio-economic status, BMI; smoking and drug use profile;
occupation; hobbies and other authenticated personalized data.

[0256]The personal profile (PP) of the user as defined in step 1104 is
compared with the response of other patient(s) to known treatment regimes
(e.g. using respective database 356 in the example of FIG. 3B)--step
1106. It is known in the art that some groups of individuals respond well
to Gefinitib (Iressa) (see, for example, Sordella et al., Science 20 Aug.
2004: Vol. 305. no. 5687, pp. 1163-1167). If the genetic make-up of
patient 234 is known, it can be used to predict whether a dosage is
optimally matched to him. For example, if the patient carries a certain
EGFR (Elongation growth factor receptor) mutation, then the patient may
stand a better chance of responding to Gefinitib than persons not
carrying the mutation.

[0257]Likewise, certain sub-populations respond better to a two drug
therapy for lung cancer than others.

[0258]Thus in a choosing step 1108, the personalized profile of the
patient, having been previously well defined genetically in step 1104,
can be compared for matching with the known histories of patients in the
same genetic sub-population(s).

[0259]The response to a treatment regime of the patient is monitored over
time (e.g. using apparatus 390 in the example of FIG. 3B). Such
monitoring apparatus feeds data to a tracking disease algorithms (362 in
FIG. 3B). The treatment regime may be adjusted with time in step 1110 and
data pertaining to the patient's state is further fed into respective
database of the data managing system (e.g. system 350 in FIG. 3B). The
patient's profile is updated accordingly in step 1104. This process may
be performed for a large number of patients worldwide and the data used
and compared to provide useful statistics which allow for improved
adjustment of treatment regimes to one or more of the patients over time.

[0260]The database managing system of the present invention may therefore
be used to provide personalized medicine to a very large number of
patients worldwide, with both initial and updated optimized personalized
dosage regimes responsive to each patient's initial and updated
personalized profile, respectively.

[0261]In a similar way, the system may be used to predict the development
of a disorder in a patient having a specific personalized profile over
time. See, for example: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00162435. This
study shows that certain genotypes/haplotypes show very different
responses to Warfarin over time. This means that one can predict
morbidity in certain sub-populations over time. Thus, if the
genotype/haplotype of the patient is known, one may consider whether
warfarin is a good drug for treating the specific patient.

[0262]In the above-mentioned study, it was noted that the response to
warfarin varies greatly among individuals. Some of this variability can
be ascribed to genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding for CYP2C9, the
enzyme mediating the metabolism of S warfarin. In addition genetic
polymorphism in other genes (i.e. VKORC1, factor VII) have been shown to
account for some of the variability in the response to warfarin
irrespective of CYP2C9. The present study has several segments:

[0263]Evaluation of the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in the
genes encoding for CYP2C9, VKORC1 and factor VII and warfarin maintenance
dose at steady state. This study is a confirmation of previous data in
our own population.

[0264]Evaluation of relationship between genetic polymorphisms in the
genes encoding for CYP2C9, VKORC1 and factor VII and warfarin loading
dose during the induction period.

[0265]Testing the hypothesis that warfarin loading based on the
individual's combined CYP2C9, VKORC1 and factor VII genotype may be more
efficient and associated with reduced adverse drug effects.

[0267]These results are of considerable clinical interest and confirm
recently published results regarding the role of these two genes in
modifying warfarin metabolism and maintenance dosage. The consistent
findings regarding the role of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 in warfarin metabolism
and maintenance dosage represents a clinically useful proof-of-principal
for the use of pharmacogenomic information in medicine and may lead to
improved understanding of warfarin's actions.

[0268]Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is a simplified flowchart
1200 for providing a personalized medicine forward prediction of a
disease or disorder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.

[0269]The profile of a user/patient is defined (step 1202). The
personalized profile (PP) may include, but is not limited to, any one or
more of the following: personalized genetic profile (genotype, haplotype,
place in the family tree created based on the authenticated database,
family medical history); personalized medical records; age, location,
socio-economic status, BMI; smoking and drug use profile; occupation;
hobbies and other authenticated personalized data; Allergies, etc.

[0270]A disease expected progress (DEP) is defined (step 1204). The
progress of the disease may be predicted as a function of the patient
profile. Thus, if the patient has a certain genetic profile, he may have
an increased chance of morbidity relative to the general population.
Alternatively, the opposite may hold true.

[0271]For example, it is known that Zarnestra (tipifarnib) targets
proteins involved in signaling breast cancer cells to grow. Nearly one in
four women on this drug in a phase II clinical trial had some sort of
clinical benefit. In 76 women, Zarnesta (given in tablet form) produced a
partial tumor reduction among 10-14% of the patients. In another 9-15% of
patients, the cancer did not progress for at least 6 months.
(bca.ns.ca/indice/2003/58index.cgi/noframes/read/229148)

[0272]In a treating step 1206, the patient may be treated responsive to at
least one of PP and DEP. In other words, if his profile is known, he may
be given a personalized dosage of one or more drugs, which is matched to
the predicted disease progress (DEP) and or to his PP. This methodology
should allow for improved individual treatment.

[0273]Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which is a simplified flowchart
1300 for providing a personalized preventative program to a patient, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0274]In a defining step 1302, the personalized profile (PP) of a
user/patient is defined (as was described hereinabove with respect to
FIGS. 11 and 12).

[0275]In a disease prediction step 1304, a respective processor utility of
the system is operative to predict a possible disease (PD) responsive to
PP. For example, a person with a history of heart disease in his family
may be provided with statistics that show that he has a 30% change of a
heart attack before the age of 60.

[0276]In a step for provision of a personalized screening/prevention
program (PPSP) 1306, the patient may be routine checked for any subtle
changes in his blood profile, ECG, BMI etc. He may also be provided with
a prevention program such as a low dosage of aspirin to be taken daily
from the age of 40 onwards.

EXAMPLE 2

Commercial Applications of Family Tree Databases

[0277]Many personal details pertaining to each user are verified by at
least one other user and this feature of the present invention allows use
of verified personal parameters. This holds true for both active and
passive users. Active users are those who are in communication with
system 200 and passive users are those who are reported by the active
users, but are not themselves active users.

[0278]The data from the active users is used to form the database as
described hereinabove. The database may be used to construct a global
atlas and world people information bank. The global atlas and world
people information bank may be used for analysis of data pertaining to
sectors of the world community. The sectors may be defined according to
any one or more of geographic location, age, gender, nationality,
religion, lifestyle and socio-economic group. The sectors may be further
defined according to profession, consumer habits, diet, health, fitness
regime, membership of club, associations and guilds.

[0279]Thus, every person within the database may belong to several
different sectors according to his personal profile. Accordingly, each
sector or sub-sector may comprise a plurality of users who have several
common denominators. Consequentially, the population of the sector or
sub-sector may be targeted according to those specific common
denominators. It should be understood that the applications exemplified
herein of using the sub-sector comprising a plurality of users who have
several common denominators for sectorial marketing should not be
construed to be limiting. The present invention encompasses a very large
number of possible applications of sectorial marketing.

a) Sectorial Marketing

[0280]Some embodiments of the present invention relate to targeted
marketing to a sector or sub-sector of users according to their
psychological, physical, spiritual and personalized characteristics.

[0281]For example, obese 18-25 year old males in the state of South
Carolina may be offered a diet and psychological advice to fit their age
group, ethnic group, weight, economic status and location.

[0282]For example, they may be offered a diet via a chain food store in
that locality and a physical training program in some of the key cities.
Due to the relatively low income of many of the people in that area, they
will not be offered high-price sports equipment, nor ski holidays.

[0283]In contrast, obese 18-25 year old males who study in an Ivy League
university may be offered a Weight-Watcher's program, high-price sports
equipment and ski holidays.

[0284]Reference is now made to FIG. 14, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart illustrating a commercial method for using the verified
database for marketing/statistical applications in a selected group of
individuals.

[0285]In a processing step 1402, the main verified database is processed
to find all individuals having the following common denominators: e.g.,
BMI>30 (obese), 18-25 year- old, US Citizens, males, studying in an
Ivy League university. In step 1404, a group of individuals having these
common denominators is formed in a sub-group database (229 in FIG. 3A).
The sub-group members may be informed of the existence of other sub-group
members (e.g. via website 223 in FIG. 2; step 1406). For example, some of
the group members attending the same university may be provided with
communication links to the other group members at that university. In
step 1408, some or all of the group members may receive offers for
products and/or services relevant to them. For example, all the members
in sub-group database 229 attending Harvard may be offered a discounted
membership to a local Boston country club.

[0286]In an optional market research step 1410, the individuals' response
to the sales/services offered in step 1408 may be monitored
statistically.

[0287]According to some embodiments of the present invention, the identity
of the web-surfer (user) is well defined and authenticated, thus, on the
basis of this knowledge, a large variety of services and products can be
offered to the user, which suits his personal profile.

b) Targeted Advertising

[0288]As the user's identity is both authenticated and well-defined, the
database of the present invention may be used to define populations for
targeted advertising.

[0289]For example, a virtual community of 65 year old poker players from
Scandinavia may be offered packages including, but not limited to,
gamblers anonymous packages, cigarette and cigars, gift playing card
sets, individual trips to Las Vegas, membership of a national or regional
games/gaming club.

[0290]Members of a certain family or virtual community may be offered
tourist packages, adapted to that specific family or virtual community.
For example American family members having a history in Australia,
Britain and Germany may be offered a tour starting in Britain, visiting
their ancestor's home towns of Bristol and Bath, followed by a tourist
trip of London and Oxford. Thereafter, they are offered to fly to Hamburg
to see the graves of their great-great-grandparents, a stop-over in
Salzburg to hear Mozart operas, and a flight to Sidney to meet their
second cousins. The family members may be East and West coast members who
have never met each other and the trip will allow cousins of various
degrees to meet for the first time. Additionally, the family members may
be offered family and trip memorabilia.

c) Business-to-Relative Advertising and Marketing

[0291]The database of the present invention may be used for finding
members or relatives of a certain community or family. These
members/relatives may be offered certain packages by businesses.
Typically, the packages will be matched to the personal profile of the
potential buyer and additionally may be matched to the personalized
profile of a potential recipient.

[0292]For example, the database may comprise data relating to a hundred
million of users. Each user has a known birthday. On average, there are
thus 300-500,000 users who celebrate their birthday on a specific date.
This data may be supplied, for example, to an online marketing website
such as Amazon. Amazon may supply by January 20th to the hundred
closest relatives of each individual having a birthday on Jan. 27, 2007
with a list of gifts suited to the personality and lifestyle of that
person. Dan may be such an individual who has his birthday on that date.
His family members will be advised of scientific, science-fiction,
alternative energy books, suited to his personality Similarly, a list of
close friends may be provided with lists of gifts.

[0293]The lists may also be matched to the relatives and friends. For
example, his daughters may be advised of gifts to match their age and
budget. A teenager may be provided with a list of gifts in a $5-10 and
$10-30 category. A good friend, employed in the same firm may be offered
a list of gifts in the $50-100 category.

[0294]The friends and relatives of Dan may also be offered to send him an
electronic card or real birthday card.

[0295]In another example, members of the Nevada Hang Glider's association
may be offered hang gliding equipment, insurance policies, psychological
advice, trips to meet with other hang gliders worldwide, energy foods and
beverages, literature relating to hang gliding and gliding, and posters,
postcards and other hang gliding related material. These offers may be
made over the web, or by any other means described with respect to system
200, in FIG. 2.

[0296]Family members or community members may be provided with
personalized packages which are associated with a local or national
holiday, a religious festival or holyday, a national or international
historical event, or a community-associated event.

[0297]Members of an environmental group in Scotland, for example, may be
offered literature relating to oil-spills, Chernobyl fall-out, bird
migration and river BOD (Biological oxygen demand) and COD (chemical
oxygen demand) impact on trout populations. The members who purchase
literature relating to the trout populations may, thereafter, be offered
to go on a trout-fishing weekend in the Lake District.

[0298]Young parents having babies of the 12-18 month age range (verified
from the database) and living in Amsterdam and Munich may be offered a
new diaper/nappy suited to that age group.

[0299]Members of a virtual community, such as a virtual "ABBA" fan club,
may be offered ABBA memorabilia in a targeted auction or online garage
sale. For example, a pair of boots worn by Bjorn at the Eurovision Song
Contest, in which he sang "Waterloo" may be offered to members of this
virtual community.

[0300]Similar sales and auctions may be offered to family members. For
example, Jeremy Bentham's clothes (currently property of University
College London, UK) may be offered for sale to all of his known
descendants in an online auction.

[0301]Family members or virtual community members may be offered "time
out" activities suited to the family or community. For example, a virtual
community of actors/actresses may be offered special deals for theatrical
shows, musicals, films, DVDs and videos. Additionally, members can be
offered to meet each other to perform "My Fair Lady" at the local
theatre. Likewise, the local theatre may be provided with a list of
suitable candidates to perform a theatrical role. The database can be
used to provide candidates who meet the following criteria: a female aged
18-35 who can sing, speak with both an Oxbridge and a Cockney accent in
English, as well as being attractive, 1.65-1.73 m, blond and slim.

[0302]The database of the present invention may be used to perform
numerous analyses of individual types from verified and authenticated
data. This data can be used for many different types of applications
exemplified by, but not limited to, the examples described herein.

[0303]The database of the present invention may be used to perform
numerous types of sectorial marketing and advertising, exemplified by,
but not limited to, the examples described herein. It should be
understood that the information relating to family relatives and
community members may be used off-line by commercial establishments as
well as on-line.

d) Multi-Level Marketing

[0304]The database of the present invention may be used to perform
optimized multi-level marketing within a family or community. The
knowledge of the lifestyle of the individuals within the family or
community may be used to define the better and worse targets for a
certain product or service. Thus, for example, all female family members
aged 55+ may be offered a "new age anti-aging face cream" using
multi-level marketing.

EXAMPLE 3

Statistical Research

[0305]The database of the present invention may be used for
epidemiological studies, trend studies, consumer studies within a
geographic location, population, real or virtual community or family.

[0306]Sectorial statistical studies may be performed relating to longevity
of a sector or population, disease analysis, consumer analysis.

[0307]For example, a market research program can be performed on male 45
year old academics who live on the US West Coast. A tobacco company may
wish to know the opinions of members of such a sector relating to a new
potent genetically engineered caffeine and nicotine containing tobacco
product.

[0308]A government may wish to map the number of pension-less pensioners
in a district who do not have medical insurance. Again, this sector can
be mapped directly from active users as well as from passive users, whose
information is obtained from active users.

EXAMPLE 4

Identifying Hostile Persons, Lost Persons, Relatives of Deceased Persons,
Possessions of the Deceased Persons From Family Tree Databases

[0309]The methods and systems for forming family trees described herein
are unique in that the family members are authenticated to a very high
level of confidence. Thus, users who are not verified over a period of
time may become suspects for having provided false information. These
users will be identified as "floating branches" which are not attached to
any other branch. They will not be granted access to the database as they
are not verified.

[0310]These unverified individuals may also provide clues as to their true
identity by trying to access certain close relatives and/or friends. In
some cases, the system of the present invention may be able to provide a
geographic location of such a person, which may be used by a family
searching for a lost individual, a police, government or legal
establishment for finding that person.

[0311]Reference is now made to FIG. 15, which is a simplified schematic
flowchart 1500 illustrating a commercial method for using the verified
database for a legal application in a selected group of individuals.

[0312]A person may die or be killed in step 1502. The information
pertaining to the deceased may be advertised in the media or may be
available in local or national government records.

[0313]In a feeding step 1504, an individual may enter the information
regarding the deceased into database 227 (FIG. 3A). Alternatively, the
information may received electronically.

[0314]In searching step 1506, processor 228 is operative to search for
nearest of kin/relatives of the deceased in database 227. If some
relatives/nearest of kin are found, they are asked in step 1508 if they
wish to be updated with respect to the status of the deceased individual.
If no, they are not informed.

[0315]If yes, the nearest of kin are updated in updating step 1510 with
respect to the death of the individual and any funeral arrangements.

[0316]In an informing step 1512, the information regarding the nearest of
kin can be provided to the attorney of the deceased, for a fee. The
attorney can then contact the nearest of kin/relatives and update them in
step 1514 with respect to the inheritance of an intestate deceased
individual via the standard legal procedures of the specific jurisdiction
of the deceased.

[0317]There are thousands if not millions of unclaimed bank accounts,
pensions, insurance and endowment policies worldwide. The database of
present invention can be used to remind individuals of their own
accounts, and further to appropriate such accounts to the nearest of kin
of a deceased individual.

[0318]Disputes pertaining to land ownership, may, at least in part, be
solved using the data from the databases of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 5

Family Applications of Family Tree Databases

[0319]Users may be informed of new relatives added to their family tree
and thus be updated in real time with respect to "newly found relatives".

EXAMPLE 6

Extraction of Data From Family Trees to Create Family Portals

[0320]Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to a family
portal or family website, in which members of the family, who appear on
the family tree are members thereof and have access thereto.

[0321]By portal is meant a Web page that serves as a point of entry for
surfers of the World Wide Web. It should be noted that most of the
popular portals are designed to optimize their compatibility with one or
more Web search engines. Many portals also offer value-added services
such as e-mail accounts, Web page hosting, or filtered information flow,
with the costs of these services being underwritten by advertising.

[0322]A family website, according to some embodiments, includes services
specific to members of the family, such as, but not limited to, a system
for sharing photos, videos, an organizational chart an events calendar, a
Roots family record, systems for communication between the family
members, such as Messenger or a voice communication system operating over
a computer network, e.g. a voice over IP system operation over the
Internet.

[0323]The information which exists in the tree, such as names of family
members and the connections and relationship between them are used as a
basis for the formation of the portal. For example, the Johnson family
may define the family website's name, authorization of access,
development of personal websites for each family member separately, his
picture, his birthday, his personal profile which is derived, at least
partially, from the data in the family tree.

[0324]Similarly, family books and/or online newspapers may be formed from
the data in the family tree.

EXAMPLE 7

Methods of Combining Different Forms of Family Information

[0325]According to some embodiments of the present invention, information
found in family trees in paper form or published in books may be
converted by means of standard optical character recognition (OCR)
methods known in the art into digital or analog information. In some
cases, the paper tree or other paper form may be scanned and saved to
disk, prior to performing OCR.

[0326]According to some embodiments, the ability of family members to
communicate within the portal/website is such that each family member
knows what the relationship between him/her and the other people
communicating within the portal is. This may be found by reference to the
family tree or by being able to access the information via a standard
search engine as is known in the art. Furthermore, the family member may
have access to one or more of the following: screenshots pertaining to
family members, a family calendar, an online family tree, a family
database and a corresponding family organizational chart. Each individual
may define the family members from whom he wishes to receive information
and to whom he wishes to provide information.

[0327]An individual or family may appear in one or more portals and in one
or more family trees.

[0328]A user may be provided, for example, with a calendar of family
events via the portal, such as by providing reminders regarding events
such as birthdays, the information of which it extracts from the family
tree database .

[0329]According to some embodiments, an individual is characterized
according to his personalized parameters, such as, but not limited to,
age, gender, hierarchical location in a family tree or chart,
geographical location, nationality and religion. If the individual's
personalized parameters meet a certain criterion or various criteria, he
may be automatically provided by the system with at least one of:
advertisements, sales offers, media items, stories, family-related
information or material.

[0330]In some cases, the individual receives at least one of:
advertisements, sales offers, media items, stories, family-related
information or material from another family member. In some cases, the
individual will have control of the material which he receives and in
some other cases the other family member (sender) will have a degree of
control of the material sent to the individual.

EXAMPLE 8

Extraction of Data From a Family Tree to Create Individual Web Pages
Therefrom

[0331]This invention, according to some embodiments, is directed to
methods for automatic generation of a web page by processor for every
individual in the family tree by extracting the data pertaining to the
individual from the family tree database and transferring it to a web
page via LAN/WAN for display at one or more interfaces. The data may
include the individual's name, date of birth, names of parents and the
like.

EXAMPLE 9

The Chronology- Display Application Showing Family Events in Chronological
Sequence

[0332]A chronological personified time line may be created from the family
tree database, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present
invention. Data is extracted from at least one of a family tree database,
a family tree display and/or from family or individual web pages.

[0333]A time line comprises divisions, which may extend over part or all
of the screen. Each division signifies a period of time

[0334]Personalized events are displayed chronologically and are provided
with titles in the language of the individual.

[0335]Data pertaining to the personalized time line may be extracted from
the family tree database, from an online/offline family tree, from
national or church records or any other data source known in the art.

[0336]1) Family Forum and Chat

[0337]Another application of the data found in the family tree database,
or from an online/offline family tree, is using the data in a family
forum. An individual may send a message to another family member.
Processor provides the senders true name to the recipient. Furthermore,
his personal details as appearing in the family tree and/or on his
personal web page may be automatically provided to the family forum.

[0338]Two or more family members may communicate to each other, each one
knowing the true identity and degree of relatedness of him to the others.
This system allows for "many to many" communication, including electronic
communication such as emails and SMSes and voice communication over the
internet and over other communication systems known in the art.

[0339]2) Family Messenger

[0340]A message may be sent from a sender to a recipient and the processor
is configured to provide at least one of the sender and recipient with
details of the family connection between them. For example, the processor
may extract the information from the family tree database, from a family
tree (not shown), from a web page and provide the information with the
message on a display at one or more of the interfaces.

EXAMPLE 10

Photograph and Portrait Authentication

[0341]A portrait, photograph or other image of a person who is known by at
least one family member may be identified by the family member and stored
in the family tree to database or by the system at an image bank
location. Images of one or more unidentified individuals may be fed into
system 200 and may be compared by image analysis methods known in the
art. Using this methodology a family tree image bank may be compiled.
Upon merging of small family trees by methods known in the art, a
national or international/world family tree image bank (FTIB) may be
formed. The FTIB may be used by local and international police an
intelligence services, as well as for, amongst others, genetic,
epidemiological, and anthropological studies.

EXAMPLE 11

Personalized Sectorial Searches

[0342]A user can perform a search using the database of the present
invention to map his relatives aged 30-35, who live in Australia, with
the provisos, that the relatives are of the third degree or closer and
are active users.

[0343]A user may wish to find friends of a certain type or persuasion. He
may use the website of the present invention to seek such friends based
upon their authenticated identities and characteristics.

[0344]A user may be provided with a family tree, a family chart, a family
table or any other family display described herein. The user may be the
center of the tree or chart and this may assist him in locating family
members and understanding the degree of relatedness between himself and
the family member(s).

[0345]In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth
in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However,
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specific
embodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also in
different ways that embody the characterizing features of the invention
as described and claimed herein.

[0346]The references cited herein teach many principles that are
applicable to the present invention. Therefore the full contents of these
publications are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for
teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical
background.

[0347]It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details set forth in the description contained herein
or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

[0348]Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various
modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments of the
invention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope,
defined in and by the appended claims.